Gerna did not stay on the beach after the wee Brown Man had disappeared—she felt afraid somehow—and she went home with only half a basketful of limpets. This so put out Great-Grannie that she vowed she would send her down to the porth again to find more, if one of her precious ducklings hadn’t taken it into its head to have a fit, which so bewildered her that she sent Gelert instead!
What with the sick duckling to attend to, and other little chores the child had to do for the ancient dame, she had not a minute to steal up to the little chamber.
When at last she thought she was free, Gelert rushed into the cottage all excitement.
‘What do you think?’ he cried, ‘the dear little Piskey Men are out on the sands looking for a Piskey-purse. They have lost one, they told me, and whoever finds it and takes it into Piskey Goog shall have a purse full of the Small People’s golden money.’
‘You don’t mean for to say so?’ exclaimed the old woman. ‘To think of it now! Go along, both of ’ee,’ glancing at Gerna, ‘an’ search for that purse until you do find it.’
‘I’ve searched and searched till I’m tired,’ said the boy, ‘an’ I would have gone on searching if the old sea wasn’t tearing in like mad.’
‘Oh dear, what a pity!’ cried the Great-Grannie. ‘We must all go an’ look for that purse to-morrow. I wouldn’t have us lose our chance of being rich for anything. Now,’ turning to Gerna, ‘make haste an’ get our suppers, for the boy must be as hungry as a hedger after such work.’
When the supper was ready, and as they were eating, Gelert remarked:
‘I forgot to tell you, Great-Grannie, that the little Brown Men told me it was noised about that Farmer Vivian is going to sell all his land—this little cottage too—and that we are to be turned out.’
‘That is the wishtest[6] news I’ve heard this longful time,’ wailed the old woman. ‘There isn’t another cottage down here, and all the little houses up to Trebetherick an’ Churchtown is more rent than I could ever pay.’