“Then why haven’t I knowed this afore? Here’s three months gone by since the master went to take command of his ridgement, and I see him off. Ay, I did send him off looking fine, and here have I been eating my heart out ever since. Why didn’t you tell me?”
“Oh, I don’t know. Yes, I do. Of course, I wasn’t going to tattle about what my father and mother said, but when I heard you talk as you did, and seem so cut up and unjust, why, I did.”
“Here, let me have it, my lad! Kick away! Jump on me for an old fool. Why, I’m as blind as old Jenk. Worse.—She’d feel safer if there was any trouble. Bless her! Oh, what an old fool I’ve been. No wonder I’ve got so weak and thin.”
“Ha, ha, ha!”
“What are you laughing at, sir?”
“You weak and thin! Why, you’re as strong as a horse.”
“Well, I am, Master Roy,” said the man, with a grim smile of pride. “But I have got a bit thin, sir.”
“Not a bit thinner.”
“Well, I aren’t enjoyed my vittles since the master went, sir. You can’t contradick that.”
“No, and don’t want to; but you did eat a four or five pound eel that you’d no right to catch.”