"W'ich, me wishin' no offense, an' no one objectin'--I did," began
the Apology, perspiring profusely as usual, "but I takes the
liberty to say as it were a spade, an' not a gate--leastways--"
"But you didn't see no signs o' Jarge, did ye?" demanded Old
Amos, "as ye might say, neither 'ide nor 'air of 'im--speak up,
James Dutton."
"W'ich, since you axes me, I makes so bold as to answer--an' very
glad I'm sure--no; though as to 'ide an' 'air, I aren't wishin'
to swear to, me not bein' near enough--w'ich could only be
expected, an' very much obliged, I'm sure."
"Ye see, Gaffer," pursued Amos, "if you didn't bring Jarge back
wi' you--w'ich you said you would--the question we axes is--wheer
be Jarge?"
"Ah!--wheer?" nodded Job gloomily. Here the Ancient was
evidently at a loss, to cover which, he took a vast pinch of
snuff.
"'Ow be we to know as 'e bean't pinin' away in a dungeon cell wi'
irons on 'is legs, an' strapped in a straitjacket an--"
Old Amos stopped, open-mouthed and staring, for out from the
gloom of the smithy issued Black George himself, with Prue upon
his arm. The Ancient stared also, but, dissembling his vast
surprise, he dealt the lid of his snuffbox two loud, triumphant
knocks.
"Peter," said he, rising stiffly, "Peter, lad, I were beginnin'
to think as Jarge were never comin' in to breakfus' at all. I've
waited and waited till I be so ravenous as a lion an' tiger--but
'ere 'e be at last, Peter, 'ere 'e be, so let's go in an' eat
summ'at." Saying which, he turned his back upon his discomfited
tormentors, and led me into the kitchen of the inn.
And there were the white-capped maids setting forth such a
breakfast as only such a kitchen could produce. And, presently,
there was Prue herself, with George hanging back, something
shamefaced, till the Ancient had hobbled forward to give him
welcome. And there was honest Simon, all wonderment and hearty
greeting. And (last, but by no means least) there were the
battered cutlasses, the brass jack, and the glittering pots and
pans--glittering and gleaming and twinkling a greeting likewise,
and with all their might.
Ah! but they little guessed why Prue's eyes were so shy and
sweet, or why the color came and went in her pretty cheeks;
little they guessed why, this golden-haired giant trod so
lightly, and held his tall head so very high--little they dreamed
of the situation as yet; had they done so, surely they must, one
and all, have fallen upon that curly, golden head and buried it
beneath their gleaming, glittering, twinkling jealousy.