“Well, so I am; and yet I should be more struck with any body being shy about helping Tim in his little devices than he himself would, though he has no shyness. It always strikes me that when these sufferers have had so much more awkwardness to get over, it is not to be pardoned that we should renew their trouble with ours. But where is Tim gone now? Slipped away in a minute! He cannot be far off; but what were we about?”
Walter cast an involuntary fearful glance down the inlet, where nothing was happening, however, to disturb the solitary sea-gull which was very quietly balancing itself on the surface.
“Were ye looking for the little blind lad?” asked a woman near. “He met with a friend in the throng, and they went off together.”
In another minute, Tim merged from behind the awning of a stall, holding Adam by the right hand, and a huge orange in the left.
“Tim said you were here,” observed Walter, “and I did not believe him. He heard you half an hour ago.”
“Tim, what did you hear me saying?”
“I did not catch your words, but I was sure it was your voice.”
“I am glad to see you buying oranges, Adam. I suppose this orange came out of yonder rope-walk.”
“Not it; and it is the last I am likely to buy; and I would not have got it for any one but Tim. I am not going to lose my settlement, I can tell you. The place that took such pains to settle me may keep me till there is work for us all again.”
“Keep you! How?”