"Of course he must then," Ernie answered with the asperity of the thwarted male.
The night-air revived the wounded man. Arrived at the cottage he sat in the kitchen, still a little stupid, but amused with his adventure.
"They'd ha kicked me in stoomach when A was down only for you, Ern," he said. "That's the Gentlemen of England's notion of politics, that is."
"You'd ha done the same by them, Joe, if you'd the chance," answered Ern.
The other grinned.
"A would that, by Guy—and all for loov," he admitted.
Ruth brought him a hot drink. He sipped it, one eye still on his saviour.
"I owe this to you, Ern. Here's to you!"
"Come to that, Joe, I owe you something," Ernie answered.
"What's that then?" Joe sat as a man with a stiff neck, screwing up his eye at the other.