"Ah, couldn't I?" he said. "You never know what a man can do till he tries."
That evening the Colonel and Mrs. Lewknor walked over to the Manor-house to discuss Ern's latest misadventure. They found Mr. Pigott there clearly on the same errand; but the old Nonconformist rose to go with faintly exaggerated dignity on seeing his would-be enemy.
"There's only one thing'll save him now," he announced in his most dogmatic style.
"What's that?" asked Mrs. Trupp.
"H'a h'earthquake," the other answered.
When the Colonel and his wife left the Manor-house half-an-hour later there were three people walking abreast down the hill before them, just as there had been on a previous occasion. Now, as then, the centre of the three was Ruth. Now, as then, on her left was Joe. But on her right instead of Ern was little Alice.
The Colonel pointed to the three.
"I'll back Caspar all the way," said Mrs. Lewknor firmly.
"Myself," replied the Colonel shrewdly, "I'll back the winner."
Then he paused to read a placard which gave the latest news of the Ulster campaign.