“Be of good cheer, darling,” cried her companion, “and don’t ye give way to doubts and fears. I’ll show ye that I’m not the man to forget one so truthful and trusting as ye have been.”
“I do not mind about myself; it be for you that I’m fearful and timmersome.”
“And for what reason are you so fearful?”
She put her lips to his ear, as if the words she whispered were too terrible to be spoken aloud in that lonely place.
He laughed, as with one hand he smoothed the soft brown hair over her forehead.
“Don’t you have any fear about me. I’m well able to take very excellent care of myself. No—no, Nelly, it won’t do; you’re not going to frighten Phil Jamblin by any such groundless fears.”
“Oh, don’t turn away,” she cried; “do come back to the ‘Lion.’”
“But, my dear girl, what will the guv’nor and my sister say at my stopping out all night without letting them know?”
“I’ll let them know—I’ll send a message by Stephen,” she exclaimed, gently.
“And they’ll put me down as a milksop—as a craven. Ah, no, lass—that would never do!”