Part 5 (2/2)

_Paul Ruttledge._ My name is Paul. Do you like it?

_Sabina Silver._ Then I won't marry you, Mr. Paul, till you swear to me upon the book that you will never beat me with any stick that you could call a stick, and that you will never strike a kick on me from behind.

_Paul Ruttledge._ Charlie, go and bring out that book to satisfy her. Of course I swear that; it is absurd.

[CHARLIE WARD _brings the book out of his pack._

_Paul Ruttledge._ I swear, Sabina, that I will never strike you with any stick of any kind, and that I will never kick you. There, will that do?

[_He takes book and kisses it._

_Sabina Silver._ I mis...o...b.. you. Kiss the book again. [PAUL RUTTLEDGE _kisses it._

_Charlie Ward._ That's all right.

_A Child._ [_Crying from a distance._] He's coming now, the priest's coming!

_Paul Ruttledge._ Then the priest will marry us. That comes in very handy.

_Charlie Ward._ [_Scornfully._] A priest marry you, indeed he'll do nothing of the kind. I hate priests and friars. It's unlucky to get talking to them at all. You never know what trouble you're in for.

_A Child._ [_Coming up._] That's true, indeed. The last time I spoke to a priest it's what he leathered me with a stick; may the divil fly away with him.

_Paul Ruttledge._ But somebody must marry us.

_Charlie Ward._ Of course. You'll lep over the tinker's budget the usual way. You'll just marry her by lepping over the budget the same as the rest of us marry.

_Paul Ruttledge._ That's all I want to know. Please marry me in whatever is your usual way.

JEROME _enters, leading the a.s.s. He carries a pig's cheek, some groceries, a string of onions, etc., on the a.s.s, which still has its nursery trappings. He goes up to_ CHARLIE WARD _thinking he is_ PAUL RUTTLEDGE.

_Jerome._ Paul, what are you doing here?

_Charlie Ward._ [_Turning._] What do you want?

_Jerome._ Oh! I'm mistaken. I thought----

_Paul Ruttledge._ I am here, Father Jerome, but you're talking to the wrong man.

_Jerome._ Good G.o.d, Paul, what has happened?

_Paul Ruttledge._ Nothing has happened that need surprise you. Don't you remember what we talked of to-day? You told me I was too much by myself.

After you went away I thought I would make a change.

_Jerome._ But a change like this!

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