Book Two The Woman - Chapter 12 Who Comes

"This table wobbles!" said Charmian.

"It does," said I, "but then I notice that the block is misplaced
again."

"Then why use a block?"

"A book is so clumsy--" I began.

"Or a book? Why not cut down the long legs to match the short
one?"

"That is really an excellent idea."

"Then why didn't you before?"

"Because, to be frank with you, it never occurred to me."

"I suppose you are better as a blacksmith than a carpenter,
aren't you, Peter?" And, seeing I could find no answer worthy of
retort, she laughed, and, sitting down, watched me while I took
my saw, forthwith, and shortened the three long legs as she had
suggested. Having done which, to our common satisfaction, seeing
the moon was rising, we went and sat down on the bench beside the
cottage door.

"And--are you a very good blacksmith?" she pursued, turning to
regard me, chin in hand.

"I can swing a hammer or shoe a horse with any smith in Kent
--except Black George, and he is the best in all the South
Country."

"And is that a very great achievement, Peter?"

"It is not a despicable one."

"Are you quite satisfied to be able to shoe horses well, sir?"

"It is far better to be a good blacksmith than a bad poet or an
incompetent prime minister."