“Nay,” she returned earnestly, “I do know it very well—I do ax but one thing, Jim.”
“And what’s that?”
“God’s blessin’,” said Susie; and stretching out her hand she pressed to his lips the finger which was encircled by the wedding-ring.
* * * * *
Mrs. Frizzell returned in the evening alone, it having been arranged that Susan was to remain in Dorchester until Jim was sufficiently recovered for the marriage to take place. She looked very worn and pale and tired as she turned in at her garden-gate, and was anything but gratified to find the alert Mrs. Cross on the watch for her.
“Well, my dear, so you’ve come back wi’out her! ’Twas the right man, then, after all?”
“’Ees,” returned Mrs. Frizzell faintly, “’twas the right man. And him and Susie be to set up house so soon as he gets a bit better.”
“Ah-h-h. Be he so bad, then, my dear?”
“Well,” said Mrs. Frizzell, putting down her basket and setting her arms akimbo, “he be that bad that he haven’t a-got but one leg, and not much use in that; and one of his arms be damaged. But Susan—dear! a body ’ud think there was nothin’ ever so j’yful in the world as the notion o’ keepin’ en.”
“Bless me! it do seem queer! She’ll find it ’ard work, won’t she, Mrs. Frizzell? I suppose he’ll want just so many victuals as if he were a sound man, and not be doin’ nothin’ to earn ’em.”