It was darker even than usual when Mrs Roberts, much exhausted after her round, set forth on her return journey. She drew back as far as possible into the shelter of the “shed,” and let the reins drop loosely over Diamond’s back as he crawled slowly up the stony lane so often mentioned. Presently, to her great surprise, a figure leaped out from the shelter of the bank, and accosted her.
“I thought you was never comin’!” cried a man’s voice.
Grammer Roberts checked the exclamation which rose to her lips, and flattened herself yet more against the side of the hood, but she made no audible remark. To herself, however, she observed: “Ho! ho! Miss Sally.”
Diamond continued his progress as though nothing unusual had happened, and the newcomer paced beside him.
“There’s no use your holding your tongue, my dear,” he continued, after a pause, “because I’m going to have an answer, one way or another.”
“A answer!” commented Mrs Roberts to herself. “He’ve a-been makin’ the maid a offer.”
“It must be ‘yes’ or ‘no,’” continued Sol firmly. “If ye don’t say nothin’ I’ll take that for a answer. Now listen to I—”
Grammer Roberts was not very quick of hearing, but she strained her ears to the utmost.
“I’ll give ’ee till we get to the top of the lane, an’ if by that time ye haven’t spoke I’ll take it ye’re willin’ to keep company wi’ I. If there’s another chap about ye, ye must make up your mind to say so.”
“There bain’t no other chap as I know on,” reflected Mrs Roberts, “but I’d like to know a bit more about this one.”