"I'll come along the lane and show you a short cut," he said and went off. "What are you two after?"
"Grub," exclaimed Nessa promptly. "Ain't had a bite since yesterday forenoon, 'cept some berries I picked to give my belly something to do." It was very naturally said, but a blunder, of course.
"Funny. You must have been off the track a lot," he said. "There's plenty of places everywhere. Which way did you come?"
"It's which way we've got to go, that matters now, farmer," said I.
"That's true, and here's the footpath. You strike me as the sort of man one could work with. Come and see me when you get to Lingen;" and he told me how to find the farm and offered his hand.
He let us get a few yards and then called me back. "It's no concern of mine, but that's a delicate youngster of yours; any one would more likely take him for a wench than a lad, when he's off guard. Anyhow, come and see me at Lingen;" and without waiting for my reply, he walked off.
"What did he want?" asked Nessa.
"Spotted you for a girl."
"Jack! He couldn't!" she protested indignantly.
"He did;" and I used the fact as a text to urge the change I had in my thoughts. She did kick at it, as was to be expected; but a little later we had a powerful practical proof of its necessity.