"Yes, I suppose so."
"A gentleman wi' 'orses an' 'ouses an' servants?"
"Well--what of it?"
"I'd--like to--wash my 'ands first, if so be you don't mind,
Peter."
"George," said I, "don't be a fool!" Now, as we stood thus,
fronting each other in the doorway, I heard a light step upon the
road behind me, and, turning, beheld Prudence.
"Oh, Prue, George is afraid of my clothes, and won't shake hands
with me!" For a moment she hesitated, looking from one to the
other of us--then, all at once, laughing a little and blushing a
little, she leaned forward and kissed me.
"Why, George!" said she, still blushing, "how fulish you be. Mr.
Peter were as much a gentleman in his leather apron as ever he is
in his fine coat--how fulish you be, George!" So proud George
gave me his hand, all grimy as it was, rejoicing over me because
of my good fortune and mourning over me because my smithing days
were over.
"Ye see, Peter, when men 'as worked together--and sorrowed
together--an' fou't together--an' knocked each other down--like
you an' me--it bean't so easy to say 'good-by'--so, if you must
leave us--why--don't let's say it."
"No, George, there shall be no 'good-bys' for either one of us,
and I shall come back--soon. Until then, take my mare--have her
made comfortable for me, and now--good night--good night!"
And so, clasping their loving hands, I turned away, somewhat
hurriedly, and left them.
There was no moon, but the night was luminous with stars, and, as
I strode along, my eyes were often lifted to the "wonder of the
heavens," and I wondered which particular star was Charmian's and
which mine.
Reaching the Hollow, I paused to glance about me, as I ever did,
before descending that leafy path; and the shadows were very
black and a chill wind stirred among the leaves, so that I
shivered, and wondered, for the first time, if I had come right
--if the cottage had been in Charmian's mind when she wrote.
Then I descended the path, hurrying past a certain dark spot.
And, coming at last within sight of the cottage, I paused again,
and shivered again, for the windows were dark and the door shut.
But the latch yielded readily beneath my hand, so I went in, and
closed and barred the door behind me.
For upon the hearth a fire burned with a dim, red glow that
filled the place with shadows, and the shadows were very deep.