"Yes, sir."
"Hah! did I not tell you so? Did you find any gold there?"
"No, sir."
"Didn't I say so?"
These aside remarks were addressed to the elderly lady, who silently acquiesced; and then she turned towards me and inquired, with a sort of anxiety, "Did you happen to meet a young man up there by name Symes? David—David Symes, that was his name."
I was very sorry that I had not met him.
"How do you think he should know him?" cried the gentleman, in a great rage. "Ah!" he exclaimed, "that will teach you fellows not to run gallivanting about the country again in a hurry, I'll swear. All your bit of money clean gone?"
"No, sir." (I had my half-crown.)
"Then you want nothing from me, I suppose?"
"Indeed, sir, I do, very much."