“God help thee!” said Joan with a heavy sigh. “I dunnot mean to be hard, lass, but yo' mun promise me. It is na mich, Lizzie, if—if things is na worse wi' yo' than I would ivver believe. Yo're safe so far: promise me as yo' will na run i' danger—promise me as yo' will na see that man again, that yo'll keep out o' his way till he leaves Riggan.”
“I'll promise owt,” cried Liz. “I dunnot care, I tell yo'. I'll promise owt yo'll ax, if yo'll let me a-be,” and she hid her face upon her arms and wept aloud.
CHAPTER XXVII - Sammy Craddock's “Manny-ensis.”
At least twice a week Jud Bates made a pilgrimage to Haviland Park. Having been enlightened to the extent of two or three chapters of “Robinson Crusoe,” Sammy Craddock was athirst for more. He regarded the adventures of the hero as valuable information from foreign shores, as information that might be used in political debates, and brought forth on state occasions to floor a presumptuous antagonist. Accordingly, he held out inducements to Jud such as the boy was not likely to think lightly of. A penny a night, and a good supper for himself and Nib, held solid attractions for Jud, and at this salary he found himself engaged in the character of what “Owd Sammy” called “a manny-ensis.”
“What's that theer?” inquired Mrs. Craddock on first hearing this imposing title. “A manny—what?”
“A manny-ensis, owd lass,” said Sammy, chuckling. “Did tha ivver hear o' a private gentleman as had na a manny-ensis?”
“Nay. I know nowt about thy manny-ensisses, an' I'll warrant tha does na know what such loike is thysen.”
“It means a power o' things,” answered Sammy; “a power o' things. It's a word as is comprehensive, as they ca' it, an' it's one as will do as well as any fur th' lad. A manny-ensis!” and manny-ensis it remained.
Surely the adventures of the island-solitary had never given such satisfaction as they gave in the cheery house room of the lodge. Sammy listened to them over numerous pipes, with a respect for literature such as had never before been engendered in his mind by the most imposing display of bindings.