"No," she denied. "His hands are big an' white an' long an' soft."
Andy pondered a minute.
"They ain't no marks of nails on 'em, air there, kid?" he demanded, solemnly.
The pursed, hurt lines around Tessibel's mouth softened a little.
"No," she murmured wearily, again. "No, Andy."
The dwarf reached and took one of the girl's hands. It lay on his own quite limply.
"Look at me, brat, dear."
The red-brown eyes moved toward the upturned face.
"Tessibel, will ye think of this one little thing?
"The Christ's holdin' his hands over the hull world, givin' everybody peace; you an' me, too, brat-kid. Waldstricker's hands ain't dragged me back to Auburn, an' God's hands has kept me here.... You showed me that from the beginnin', eh, brat?... It's sure, ain't it?"