Mrs. Ives’ thoughts were so disturbing that, weary as she was, she did not care to go to bed. She drew a glass of beer from a barrel in the corner, drank it off, and after a very long time lay down without troubling to undress in the room where the boy slept.
Early in the morning he awoke fresh and bright. He scrambled out of bed and went to the old woman’s side. He then sat on the bottom of the bed and faced her.
“You’ve come back,” he said. “I’m so glad.”
“I have come back, Piers,” she answered.
“Where were you yesterday, grannie?”
“I went on a long journey into Devonshire.”
“Oh,” said Piers very solemnly, “I wish you wouldn’t.”
“Why so, love? Do you object to me going into the next county?”
“I do,” replied Piers, “because——”
“Yes, dear.”