Mauled 'un! In course I've mauled 'un. And I meaned it. That ere young woman is engaged to be my wife."
"No, I ain't," shouted Ruby.
"But she is," persisted John Crumb.
"Well then, I never will," rejoined Ruby.
John Crumb turned upon her a look of love, and put his hand on his heart. Whereupon the senior policeman said that he saw at a glance how it all was, but that Mr. Crumb had better come along with him,--just for the present. To this arrangement the unfortunate hero from Bungay made not the slightest objection.

In course I mauled 'un. And I meaned it. That ere young woman is engaged to be my wife."
"No, I ain't," shouted Ruby.
"But she is," persisted John Crumb.
"Well then, I never will," rejoined Ruby.
John Crumb turned upon her a look of love, and put his hand on his heart. Whereupon the senior policeman said that he saw how it all was, but that Mr. Crumb had better come along with him, just for the present. To this arrangement he made no objection.
