"They are pretty things, guineas,"
thought Wood, "and tell no tales, like bank-bills." And he thought
over the days when he and Macshane used to ride abroad in search of
them.
I don't know what thoughts entered into Mr. Wood's brain; but the
next day, after seeing young Billings, to whom he actually made a
present of a guinea, that young man, in conversing with his mother,
said, "Do you know, mother, that if you were free, and married the
Count, I should be a lord? It's the German law, Mr. Wood says; and
you know he was in them countries with Marlborough."
"Ay, that he would," said Mr. Wood, "in Germany: but Germany isn't
England; and it's no use talking of such things."
"Hush, child!" said Mrs. Hayes, quite eagerly: "how can _I_ marry
the Count? Besides, a'n't I married, and isn't he too great a lord
for me?"
"Too great a lord?--not a whit, mother. If it wasn't for Hayes, I
might be a lord now. He gave me five guineas only last week; but
curse the skinflint who never will part with a shilling."
"It's not so bad as his striking your mother, Tom. I had my stick
up, and was ready to fell him t'other night," added Mr. Wood. And
herewith he smiled, and looked steadily in Mrs.
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