Peregrine's Progress Part 55

"How d'ye mean?"

"I'd have you a lady, sweet-mannered, soft-voiced, tender and gentle--"

"Like your aunt? But she ain't exactly a pet lamb, Peregrine, nor yet a cooin' dove--now, is she? And as for me I'm just--"

"My G.o.ddess Diana!"

"Was the real G.o.ddess a lady?"

"Well, I--I suppose so--but I want to ask you--"

"No, tell me about her--the G.o.ddess Diana."

"Well, besides Diana, she was called Cynthia, Delia, Ancia, Orthia and several other names--"

"And all of 'em pretty, too!"

"And she was pa.s.sionately fond of hunting."

"And didn't like men overmuch, did she?"

"Well, it appears not. She changed Actaeon into a stag and had him devoured by her dogs--"

"Which wasn't very ladylike, Peregrine--that was coming it a bit too strong, I think! Why did she do it? Poor young man!"

"Because he spied upon her--at her toilet."

"Was that all? d'ye mean he catches her undoin' her curl papers?"

"She was--bathing!"

"Oh!" said Diana. "Well, poor young man! She'd got modesty pretty bad, I think, and if all G.o.ddesses are like her--"

"They were not."

"Oh, well, let's talk o' something more human-like--"

"Ourselves!" I suggested.

"Well, I sold every one o' my baskets and earned fifty-six s.h.i.+llings.

How much money did you spend, Peregrine?"

"I'm not sure, but about twenty-seven pounds, I fancy."

"Pounds?" she cried so suddenly that Diogenes p.r.i.c.ked his ears. "For them noo duds--"

"Horrible!" I exclaimed.

"It is!" said she. "It's wicked robbery--"

"I mean your grammar, Diana, and the word 'duds', whatever it may mean, sounds atrocious, especially on your lips--"

"Oh, tus.h.!.+ d'ye mean as they charges you all that money for them new--"

"Those!" I corrected.

"Things you're wearing--"

"You forget the despised locket and chain," said I reproachfully, "and I also purchased two silver watches--"

"Watches? Two on 'em? What for?"

"One for our Tinker and one for Jessamy," I explained.

"Foolishness!" she exclaimed.

"Indeed, madam?"

"It's wicked waste o' money--an' don't call me 'madam'!"

"I suppose I may be permitted to spend my money to please myself, girl?"

"I s'pose so, boy! Easy come, easy go! You can get more any time ye want, just for the askin', can't you? But you wouldn't spend s' gay an' careless if you had to earn your money, to slave an' sweat for it--not you!"

"How do you know?" I demanded in towering anger.

"Just because!"

"I consider you are very--exceedingly--" I checked the word upon my lips and scowled.

"Well? Very exceedingly--what?" she demanded.

"Never mind!"

"I don't!" she retorted, and flicked Diogenes to speedier gait, for evening was beginning to fall.

CHAPTER x.x.xI

A VEREKER'S ADVICE TO A VEREKER

Diogenes, perceiving he was permitted to loiter no more, philosophically betook himself to his heels, or rather hoofs, and trotted briskly supper-wards, up hill and down, until suddenly, above the rattle and grind of the wheels, I was aware of a man's voice, peculiarly sonorous and sweet, upraised in joyful singing.