"Ay—is I, sir?" It was eager. "Is I been doin' well, sir—as you'd have me do?"
"That you is!"
"Is you tellin' me the truth, gran'pa? It isn't jus' t' hearten me, is it?"
"'Tis the truth! You is doin' better, Toby, than your father done at your age. I never knowed a lad t' do so well first time on ice like this. An' you was all on fire t' come t' the ice, wasn't you, Toby?"
"I wanted t' come, sir."
"An' you've not repented, Toby? Mm-m?"
"No, sir." The lad stared about and sighed. "I'm glad I come, sir."
Jonathan turned to Archie with his face all in a pucker of joy.
"There's spirit, sir!" he declared.
"Ay," said Archie; "that's brave enough, God knows!"