“Then he went up on the cliff to look out with the glass?”
“Nay; he’s been writing his eyes out of his head almost, Master Aleck. Wouldn’t come down to his dinner nor yet to his tea, and I had to take him up something on a tray, or else he wouldn’t ha’ eat a mossle. I shall be glad when he’s writ his book.”
“Then he didn’t know I hadn’t come?”
“No, I don’t believe he thought about you a bit.”
“Hah!” sighed Aleck.
“But what have you been a-doing of, Master Aleck? Not fighting again, have you?”
“You don’t see any marks, do you?”
“Nay, I don’t see no marks; but whatever did make you so late, Master Aleck?”
“Someone broke a hole in the boat, and we had to mend it, that’s all. Now cut me some bread and ham for Tom Bodger down at the boat-shelter; he’s nearly starved.”
The provender was willingly out and carried down, and soon after Aleck lay dreaming over the adventures of the day.