Mrs. Elvin, a handsome, big-built woman, showed pleasure and congratulated the lovers. Her little boys came and shook hands. They were a well-mannered, cheerful pair and resembled their mother.
"Going to make farmers of 'em I hope, Joe?" asked the owner of Owley; but Mr. Elvin was doubtful.
"Robert shapes for it," he answered. "But Jack is all for the sea."
"That's because he doesn't know anything about the sea," asserted Jacob. "You keep him on the land, Joe. There's little enough to be picked up off the sea, by all accounts."
The men strolled into the yard presently, for Elvin had a sick sheep-dog and Bullstone readily offered to see it.
"Just my luck if he's going to die," said Joe moodily. "Best ever I had, and sheep-dogs be so scarce you can't get a trained one over distemper for money."
"He's not going to die," declared Bullstone. "He's too thin—same as you are yourself."
He prescribed for the dog and Joe continued to grumble until Bullstone grew impatient.
"What the mischief's the matter with you? Always grizzling for nought. A man in fair health with a good wife, a good mother and two fine, healthy sons. What more d'you want?"
Joe laughed mirthlessly.