“Do ye take that fowlin’-piece, young Flynt,” he said, opening his eyes. “And be careful—it’s loaded.”
“Thanks, I’ll take it in the morning.”
“And there’s the coppers and silver, Jinny. That’s at the bottom o’ the sack Oi’m on. And old tradesmen’s tokens too.”
“In the morning—you go to sleep now,” she said tenderly. But she still lingered, reluctant to leave him, and was very relieved when Ravens (now become a woodman with an adze) looked in to see the old man, and, unembittered by the sight of the lovers, consented to pass the night in the hut he had mended.
X
Swinging home through the wood, through aisles flooded only with moonlight, the young lovers soon left the thought of death behind them. Indeed from the hut itself there had soon come following them the careless strains of the incurable caroller:
“’Tis my delight of a shiny night
In the season of the year.”
“What a hefty basket!” said Will at last. “Whatever have you been carrying the old codger?”
“It’s what I’m carrying off,” she laughed. “But give it me, if it’s too much for your poor arm.”