“That’s a likely story, isn’t it?” said Bessie, scornfully. “If that was so, why did you come sneaking around like this? Why didn’t you come right out and ask for us? You didn’t think we were going to eat you, did you?”
“I–I didn’t want them to know I was doin’ it, Bess,” he said. “I’m scared, Bessie–I’m afraid of what they’d do to me, if they found out I was takin’ your side agin’ them.”
Despite herself, Bessie felt a certain pity for the coward coming over her. She released his shoulder, and stood looking at him with infinite scorn in her eyes.
“And to think I was ever afraid of you!” she said, aloud.
“That’s right, Bess,” he said, pleadingly. “I wouldn’t hurt you–you know that, don’t you? I used to like to tease you and worry you a bit, but I never meant any real harm. I was always good to you, mostly, wasn’t I?”
“Dolly!” called Bessie, sharply. She didn’t know just what to do, and she felt that, having Jake here, he should be held. It had been plain that Charlie Jamieson had considered what he had to tell valuable.
“Hello! Did you call me, Bessie?” said Dolly, coming out of the tent. “Oh!”
The exclamation was wrung out of her as she saw and recognized Jake.
“So he’s spying around here now, is he?” she said. “I told you he was a bad lot when you let him go at Windsor, didn’t I? I knew he’d be up to his old tricks again just as soon as he got half a chance.”
“Never mind that, Dolly. Tell Miss Eleanor he’s here, will you, and ask her to come out! I think she’d better see him, now that he’s here.”