'That I can't, sir,' she said in clear hearty tones, and turned to continue her walk.
'But tell me what time you think it is, my good girl; I am not good at reading the sun.' She turned again, and looked at him with a longer pause, but, if there was suspicion or disapproval in her thoughts, she expressed nothing in her face.
'Yer a gent; I'd 'a thought ye'd 'a had a watch.' 'But mine is at the watchmaker's getting mended,' he said with a smile.
He was neither young nor handsome, but he was clever, and that goes further than either in dealing with a woman.
She still stood staring at him in rude independence.
'The shadows is longer 'an they was a while by; mebbe it's three.' He sighed and shifted his position wearily against the paling, as though faint with fatigue.
'You can't tell me of any place near where I can get something to eat?
I have been working hard since daybreak, and now I am out of my reckoning, and tired and hungry.' He glanced down at his tools and earth-stained clothes.
He won his wish; the woman, who would not have tarried a moment for selfish pleasure, remained out of generous pity.
'I've the piece mother put up, mebbe it's big enou' for we two.' 'But I could not think of taking your luncheon,' he exclaimed, with a gallantry that was meant to be impressive, but was quite lost on his practical companion.

She proceeded to open her parcel and examine the contents to see whether or not there was enough for two.

He also examined it critically with his eyes, in some alarm at her prompt response to his appeal, but the thick slices of bread and meat, if not dainty, were clean, and of excellent quality.
She took the largest and thickest bit and thrust it into his hand, very much as a mother would feed her child with the portion she considered its fair share.
''Ere, ye may 'ev that, fur I shan't want it.' 'You are very kind,' he said, with a touch of sarcasm too fine for her.
It appeared that, having taken out the food, she thought well to make her own meal, for she went a few steps farther on, and, sitting down on the grass with her back to the paling, began to eat.

A large tuft of weeds grew midway between him and her.

Truly we can foresee consequences but a very little way in our dealings with a fellow-creature, and this man, as he stood munching his bread, uncertain how to proceed in winning favour from the bold beauty, was hardly pleased with the result of his encounter.