“What are we to do?” I asks of Looseley aside.
“Do?” he answers. “There’s only one thing to do! March ’em both off to the station and have ’em up before the beaks to-morrow morning.”
Nan give such a scream at that, that my heart felt like water within me.
“Nan,” says Nick, very white, but very quiet like, “for my sake don’t make a disturbance! It can’t do any good! I didn’t take the watch, you know that, and the truth must win. Let me go quietly, dear, and you go home as fast as you can, and I’ll come and tell you all about it as soon as the matter is settled! God bless you, Nan!”
And he held his white face to hers, and she clung round him and kissed him in a way that brought the water into my eyes; and I couldn’t help speaking to her.
“Cheer up, my dear!” I says, “depend upon it, it will be all set right, and we shall find an explanation for the mystery.”
“God bless you, Nan!”
“Oh, let me go with him,” she cried, “dear Mr. Challice! He will be so lonely and unhappy by himself. Let me come too, and sit by him till the morning.” But at that I had to shake my head, and Nick reminded her she had to give an explanation of his absence to them at home.
“Keep up your heart, dear,” he said bravely, “a couple of words will set this right! Go home, like a good girl, and wait for me.”