“Sure, girlie, if it will please you. Wait here!”
The sturdy smith took down the key from a nail in the wall and went out.
Eileen switched her attention to Phil.
“Have you been long in the Valley, Mr. Ralston?”
Phil was afraid of his voice, so he answered in a deeper intonation than was his usual.
“Just a few days, miss.”
“And you’re a blacksmith?”
“Not yet, Miss Pederstone!” Phil grinned to himself 87 and felt slightly more confident. “I hope to be, some day.”
Eileen seemed surprised.
“Haven’t you been blacksmithing before? Why, my father started to learn his trade when he was fourteen years old.”