“Why do you make me go in? I want to hear about the poor miners; I want to help them, as well as Anne Valery.”
“Do'ee help we, Missus!” implored the man, softened by a woman's kind looks. “Do'ee give we some'at to keep 'un fra starving!”
“Starving!” cried Agatha in horror. And even her husband's anxiety was for the moment quelled in the deep pity which overspread his countenance.
“It be nigh that, I tell'ee. Us be no cheats—there be other folk as has cheated we. Fine grand folk as knew nowt o' the mines, but shut 'un up, and paid no money.”
“How wicked!”
“But I be come to find 'un out,” cried the man fiercely, as his eye lit on Nathanael. “For I do know thick fine folk. And I tell'ee”—
“Silence! you forget you are speaking before a lady. Wait for me, and I will talk with you.”
“Will'ee, Mister? Don't'ee cheat, now!” said the miner, with a rude attempt at a sneer.
The young man's cheek flushed, but he said very quietly—
“I promise you, I will speak with you here in half-an-hour. I am Nathanael Harper—Mr. Harper's youngest son.”