“Not in England?” said the girl, drawing back a little.
“Think ye I’d treat the lass I love like that?” responded Evatt, reproachfully. “Nay. A friend of mine is chaplain on the ‘Asia’ man-of-war, and he’ll make no bones about helping us. And as the king’s flag and broad arrow puts the ship out of the colony jurisdiction, ’t will make the thing legal despite the law.”
“How romantic!” exclaimed Janice. “To think of making a stolen match, and of being wed on a king’s ship!”
“Now dost want to rail at thy star?”
“’T is great good fortune,” ecstatically sighed the girl. “Think you ’t would be right?”
“Would I ask it if ’t were not?” rejoined Evatt, heartily.
“But dadda and mommy—” began the falterer.
“Will be pleased enough when the job’s done. Think ye, if they were n’t bound they ’d not rather have a titled son-in-law than that gawk?”
“A what?” cried Janice.
“Thou dost not know thy lover’s true name, Janice. ’T is John Ombrey, Lord Clowes, who sits beside thee.”