The old beard, now shaggy and unkempt, trembled, whilst a parched tongue licked over the lips.
The long arms of the humpback slowly rose, and Tessibel sang herself into the throbbing bosom of her father.
The prisoner's great horny hand descended upon the curly head and for a moment the fingers of the girl tried to pry the wrinkled eyelids open. Her singing ceased, and she spoke—no great orator ever had a more intense audience.
"It air—it air Tess, Daddy Skinner, did ye think that her—had forgot—and Goddy?"
Everyone in the room heard the musical voice.
"The jedge didn't know," Tess went on, "that God promised that ye was to come home with Tessibel." And then, loosening herself from the trembling fingers, Tess leaned toward the judge, a wealth of hair falling over each shoulder.
"Did ye, kind, good man?"
His Honor, fascinated by the sight, bent toward her to make sure of her words.
"I air Daddy's brat," she urged with a smile, "and Goddy in the sky said as how Daddy Skinner would come home with Tessibel ... He air to go with me, ain't he?"