“You’re safe now, then,” returned Sol. “They’d hear ye if ye was to holler. Good night.”
And with that he turned, and disappeared into the dusk, before she had time to thank him.
On the following day, at the same time, Tranter Sally jogged past Hedger Sol, and Sol looked up with a friendly word, and Sally smiled down rather shyly. When dusk came and the van was jogging home again, a tall, dark figure suddenly loomed beside it.
“I be a-goin’ to keep ye company along the lwonely bit,” remarked Sol.
“’Tis too much trouble, I’m sure,” returned Sally, but she made no further protest.
The next day the same order of procedure held good, but on the following morning no Sol appeared in the lane, for the hedge which bordered it was shorn as close as a stubble-field. Sally looked about her eagerly, but detecting no signs of life, continued her journey with somewhat depressed spirits.
Nevertheless, in the evening, as the van slowly mounted the hill, she heard the sound of hasty steps behind her, and was presently overtaken by Sol.
“Did ye think I wasn’t comin’?” he enquired.
“I didn’t think anything about you,” returned Sally, mendaciously.
“Well, I’ve come, an’ what’s more I be a-goin’ to go on comin’ so long as it be so dark. It bain’t fit for a maid to go travellin’ alone so late.”