“Rebecca hes him, same as shoo hes thee,” somebody replied; and Farmer Butler and Harriet Stubbs descended from the trap. Harriet’s sharp eyes scanned the rabble eagerly; they met Harry’s; and while the men-women gathered about Butler with questions she slipped quickly to his side.
“I couldna’ set him wrang—there’s naughbut one road—ye’s get awa’ yet,” she said low and rapidly. “De’il be good to us, what a seet!—Get ye amang th’ villagers yonder, Harry, an’ dinnat be seen; I’se manage for ye. Can th’ mare carry th’ two o’ ye a post or so? Awa’, an’ dinnat be seen. Wait for me yonder, an’ dinnat let him see ye.... Now, Henry, her’s ane o’ ’em, an’ t’ither winna be far off.”
“Bide ye wi’ this unskelped hussy while I find him!” cried the farmer.
“Nay—I spy him!” said Harriet. “Yonder he is!” She darted off, and mingled with the men. Her eyes shone, and she seemed to set herself to some effort.
A huge fellow barred her way.
“Where for, i’ such a hurry?” and she broke into a shrill laugh.
“My ain gait, my owd love—kiss thy Nancy!” She took the man’s bleared face between her hands, and set her own cheek against it.
“Out, ye trollop!”
“An’ out yoursel’, ye greasy muck-slut; tch, ye filthy dozen! Here’s my man.—Doady, come, let’s shak’ a leg, Doady! Wilt dance wi’ thy Nancy? ‘Shak’ it a little, a little, a little. An’ turn ye roundabout!’” she sang, and flung her arms about another fellow. “Nay, thou’s beslubbered my face, chuck; never heed; ain muck’s sweet, an’ thou’s my ain Charlie; a kiss, now! Sink, but we’re as threng as three i’ a bed! Hey, my bonnie black boys!” She turned this way and that among the men, making herself outrageous; and then she slipped out of the ring and sought Harry.
She found him, hidden from the leaping of the fire behind the old pike-keeper’s heap of furniture.