He drew a long breath.
"Not exactly the minister," said he, flushing with shame. "Here—let me read the names to you. William Hopkins of the toggery shop, one hundred dollars. Do you know him?"
Tess shook her head in the negative.
"Deacon Hall and his wife Augusta gave one hundred dollars."
"I know her," Tess cried, "and I knows him a little, too. I tooked them berries and fish—they has a cottage below the ragged rocks."
"And there's the druggist, Mr. Bates—he did not put down his name on the list, but he gave fifty dollars."
Tessibel listened to the explanations as Young read on, making it all plain to her as he proceeded.
She was leaning far over toward him, her chin resting on her open palm.
"They be dum good blokes, to give their money to a squatter, ain't they?"