Do  you  think  you  can  go  ? '

*  Why,  mother,  I  go  by  my  feelings,  and  there  's  no
need  to  think  at  all,  or  God  knows  what  I  should
think.'

The  widow  shook  her  head. *  Nothing  '11  stop  you,
I  suppose  ? '

*  Nothing  inside  of  me  will,  mother.'

*  Doesn't  she but  never  mind. I've  no  right  to

ask,  Robert ;  and  if  I  have  curiosity,  it 's  about  last
night,  and  why  you  should  let  villains  escape. But
there 's  no  accounting  for  a  man's  notions  ;  only,  this
I  say,  and  I  do  say  it,  Nic  Sedgett,  he 's  at  the  bottom
of  any  mischief  brewed  against  you  down  here. And
last  night  Stephen  Bilton,  or  somebody,  declared  that
Nic  Sedgett  had  been  seen  up  at  Fairly.'

*  Selling  eggs,  mother. Why  shouldn't  he  ?  We
mustn't  complain  of  his  getting  an  honest  livelihood.'

*  He 's  black-blooded,  Robert ;  and  I  never  can
understand  why  the  Lord  did  not  make  him  a  beast
in  face. I'm  told  that  creature's  found  pleasing  by
the  girls.'

*  Ugh,  mother,  I  'm  not.'

'  She  won't  have  you,  Robert  ? '

He  laughed. *  We  shall  see  to-day.'

*  You  deceiving  boy  ! '  cried  the  widow ;   *  and  me

215


C I  LIBRARY
■'•V  y«


RHODA    FLEMING

CHAPTER  not  know  it 's  Mrs. Lovell  you  're  going  to  meet !  and
Robert  would  to  heaven  she  'd  see  the  worth  of  ye,  for  it 's  a
smitten  low  bom  lady  you  ought  to  marry.'

*  Just  feel  in  my  pockets,  mother,  and  you  won't  be
so  ready  with  your  talk  of  my  marrying. And  now
I'll  get  up. I  feel  as  if  my  legs  had  to  learn  over
again  how  to  bear  me. The  old  dad,  bless  his  heart !
gave  me  sound  wind  and  limb  to  begin  upon,  so  I  'm
not  easily  stumped,  you  see,  though  I've  been  near
on  it  once  or  twice  in  my  life.'

Mrs. Boulby  murmured,  *  Ah !  are  you  still  going  to
be  at  war  with  those  gentlemen,  Robert  ? '

He  looked  at  her  steadily,  while  a  shrewd  smile
wrought  over  his  face,  and  then  taking  her  hand,  he
said,  *  I  '11  tell  you  a  little ;  you  deserve  it,  and  won't
tattle. 