Very fair and sweet Prudence looked, lithe and vigorous, and
straight as a young poplar, with her shining black hair curling
into little tight rings about her ears, and with great, shy eyes,
and red, red mouth. Surely a man might seek very far ere he
found such another maid as this brown-cheeked, black-eyed village
beauty.
"Good evening, Mr. Peter!" said she, dropping me a curtesy with a
grace that could not have been surpassed by any duchess in the
land; but, as for poor George, she did not even notice him,
neither did he raise his curly head nor glance toward her.
"You come just when you are most needed, Prudence," said I,
relieving her of the heavy basket, "for here be two hungry men."
"Three!" broke in the Ancient; "so 'ungry as a lion, I be!"
"Three hungry men, Prudence, who have been hearkening for your
step this half-hour and more."
Quoth Prudence shyly: "For the sake of my basket?"
"Ay, for sure!" croaked the Ancient; "so ravenous as a tiger I be!"
"No," said I, shaking my head, "basket or no basket, you are
equally welcome, Prudence--how say you, George?" But George only
mumbled in his beard. The Ancient and I now set to work putting
up an extemporized table, but as for George, he stood staring
down moodily into the yet glowing embers of the forge.
Having put up the table, I crossed to where Prudence was busy
unpacking her basket.
"Prudence," said I, "are you still at odds with George?"
Prudence nodded.
"But," said I, "he is such a splendid fellow! His outburst the
other day was quite natural, under the circumstances; surely you
can forgive him, Prudence."
"There be more nor that betwixt us, Mr. Peter," sighed Prue,
"'Tis his drinkin'; six months ago he promised me never to touch
another drop--an' he broke his word wi' me."
"But surely good ale, in moderation, will harm no man--nay, on
the contrary--"
"But Jarge bean't like other men, Mr. Peter!"
"No; he is much bigger, and stronger!" said I, "and I never saw a
handsomer fellow."
"Yes," nodded the girl, "so strong as a giant, an' so weak as a
little child!"
"Indeed, Prudence," said I, leaning nearer to her in my
earnestness, "I think you are a little unjust to him. So far as
I know him, George is anything but weak-minded, or liable to be
led into anything--"