An theer was a man as held 'er up by a wire roun her waist, an waggled her i' t' watter.

But t' foak as had paid sixpence to coom in, they just took an tore down t' place, an they'd 'a dookt t' man an t' gell boath, if th' coonstable hadn't coom.

Naw, mermaids is faddle,' he repeated contemptuously.
'Faddle ?' repeated 'Lias, interrogatively.
The children started.

They has supposed 'Lias was of doting and talking gibberish for the rest of the morning.

But his tone was brisk and as David looked up he caught a queer flickering brightness in the old man's eye, which showed him that 'Lias was once more capable of furnishing amusement or information.
'What do they coe that bit watter, 'Lias ?' he inquired, pointing to it.
'That bit watter ?' repeated 'Lias, eyeing it.