“That will we ask Father,” said Avice.
“Father couldn’t get on, with me and Emma both away,” said Bertha, in a tone which she tried to make cheerful. “He’d be quite lost—I know he would.”
“Well, but—” began Avice.
“Then he’d find his self again as fast as he could,” said a gruff voice, and they looked up in surprise to see old Dan standing behind them. “Thou’s done well, lass. Thou’s ta’en advice o’ thy own kind heart, and not o’ other folks. Thee take the little maid to thee, and I’ll see thee safe out on’t. She’ll be better off a deal wi’ thee, and she can see our Emma every day then. So dry thy eyes, little un; it’ll be all right, thou sees.”
“But, Father, you’ll not do without me!”
“Don’t thee be conceited, lass.” Old Dan was trying hard to swallow a lump in his throat. “I’ll see thee by nows and thens. Thou’ll be a deal better off. And there’s—there’s El’nor.”
“Eleanor’s not always in a good temper,” said Bertha doubtfully.
“She’s best o’ t’other lot,” said old Dan. “She’s none so bad, by nows and thens. I shall do rarely, thou’ll see. But, Avice—dost thou think thou could just creep off like at th’ lee-side o’ th’ house, wi’ the little maid, afore She sees thee? When thou’rt gone I’ll tell her, and then I’ll have a run for’t till it’s o’er. She’s better to take when first comings-off is done. She’ll smooth down i’ th’ even, as like as not, and then I’ll send El’nor o’er wi’ the little maid’s bits o’ gear. Or, if she willn’t go, I can bring ’em myself, when work’s done. Let’s get it o’er afore She finds aught out!”
Avice scarcely knew whether to laugh or to be sorry. Poor, weak, easy-tempered Dan! They took his advice, and crept round by the lee-side of the house, under cover of the hedge. When they were out of sight, with a belt of trees between, old Dan took leave of them.
“Thou’ll be good to the little maid, Avice,” said he. “I know thou will, or I’d never ha’ let her go. But she’ll be better off—ay, a deal better off, she’ll be. She gets put upon, she does. And being youngest, thou sees—I say, my lass, thou’d best call her aunt. She’s so much elder than thee; it’ll sound better nor cousin.”