_Sabina Silver._ [_Hanging her head._] Don't be humbugging me.
_Paul Ruttledge._ Indeed he's not, Sabina.
_Sabina Silver._ You're only joking a poor girl. Sure, what would make you think of me at all?
_Paul Ruttledge._ Sabina, have you been always on the road with Charlie Ward and the others?
_Paul Ruttledge._ And you'd make a good tinker's wife?
_Sabina Silver._ You're joking me, but I would be a better wife for a tinker than for anyone else.
_Paul Ruttledge._ Sabina, will you marry me?
_Sabina Silver._ I'd be afraid you'd beat me.
_Charlie Ward._ You see her father used to beat her. She's afraid of the look of a man now.
_Paul Ruttledge._ I would not beat you, Sabina. How can you have got such an idea?
_Sabina Silver._ Will you promise me that you won't beat me? Will you swear it to me?
_Sabina Silver._ [_To_ CHARLIE WARD.] Will you make him swear it? Haven't you a little book in your pack? Bring it out and make him swear to me on it, and you'll be my witness.
_Charlie Ward._ I think, Sibby, you need not be afraid.
_Sabina Silver._ What's your name, gentleman?
_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 misdoubt you. Kiss the book again. [PAUL RUTTLEDGE _kisses it._
_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.