‘What brings you here?’
‘Have I not told you? I desired to see you and to have news of my father. You have been quick about it, Jasper. I could scarce believe my eyes when I saw you riding home.’
‘You have been watching?’
‘Of course I have. My eyes are keen. Nothing escapes them.’
‘Walter, this will not do. I am not deceived; you did not come here for the purpose you say. You want something else, what is it?’
The boy laughed, snapped his fingers, and began to dance, whistling a tune, on the rock; approaching, then backing from Jasper.
‘Oh, you clever old Jasper!’ he laughed, ‘now you begin to see—like the puppy pitched into the water-butt, who opened his eyes when too late.’
Jasper folded his arms. He said nothing, but waited till the boy’s mad pranks came to an end. At last Watt, seeing that he could not provoke his brother, desisted, and came to him with affected humility.
‘There, Jasper—Saint Jasper, I mean—I will be quiet and go through my catechism.’
‘Then tell me why you are here.’