coonstable

Updated: May 10, 2025

Theer was just a gell, an they'd stuffed her into a fish's skin and sewed 'er up; an when yo went close yo could see t' stuffin runnin out of her. 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.

Mrs. Humphry Ward - The History of David Grieve

'Theer's my grandfeyther, said 'Lias, almost in a whisper, 'an owd Needham an his two brithers, an yoong Jack Needham's woife her as losst her babby an yoong lads an lasses fro Clough End, childer awmost, and t' coonstable, an Passon Maine Ay ay yo've doon it! Yo've doon it! She'll mak naw moor mischeef neets she's gay quiet now! T' watter's got her fasst enough!

Mrs. Humphry Ward - The History of David Grieve