But come in; it will be all right; I know her very well." I was glad of that, for I wanted to have a chat with her, and to peep at the baking.

"Good morning, Missis," said he; "how are you ?" "Why, just in a middlin' way." "How long is this wet weather going to last, think you ?" "Nay, there ye hev me fast;--but what brings ye here this mornin' ?" said the old woman, resting the end of her ladle on the little counter; "I never trouble sic like chaps as ye." "No, no," replied my friend; "we have not called about anything of that kind." "What, then, pray ye ?" "Well, my friend, here, is almost a stranger in Preston; and as soon as ever he smelt the baking, he said he should like to see it, so I took the liberty of bringing him in." "Oh, ay; come in, an' welcome.

Ye're just i' time, too; for I've bin sat at t' back to sarra (serve) t' pigs." "You're not a native of Lancashire, Missis," said I."Why, wheer then?
come, now; let's be knowin', as ye're so sharp." "Cumberland," said I."Well, now; ye're reight, sewer enough.

But how did ye find it out, now ?" "Why, you said that you had been out to sarra t' pigs.

A native of Lancashire would have said 'serve' instead of 'sarra.'" "Well, that's varra queer; for I've bin a lang time away from my awn country.