Friday, 18 May 2012

The blacksmith’s wife [part 13]


Slipping from his grasp I swam away then surfaced, shaking water from eyes which pleaded a repeat performance;   speedily, satisfyingly supplied.   As reward I promised to renounce all stripling lads, but no sooner spoke than from the trees emerged, moonlit, a veritable full-grown lusty man who’d been spying on us from the bank.  
More than just my conscience pricked, but he surprised me, shouting  ‘Gabriel, if that’s your wife, I vow you did not over-paint this lily – remember, Brother, share and share alike!’
Gabriel’s fury roared:   ‘By Christ, I swear you’ll try cockles if you lay a hand on her!’

Friday's Prediction is now hosted by Phil Ambler over at Phlambler's world    Phil's first three words were shake (all variations), lily and cockle and I was delighted to discover, from Brewer's Phrase and Fable, that 'to try cockles' meant to be hanged.

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