“Show me,” said the miscreant, “what s to be done, life or purse—an' here's your sort for both.”
“Come, then,” said Nell, “by the night above us, we'll thry your mettle.”
“Never heed her,” observed Nanse; “aunt, you're too wicked an' revengeful.”
“Am I?” said the aunt. “I tuck an oath many a year ago, that I'd never die till I'd put sharp sorrow into Lamh Laudher's sowl. I punished him through his daughter, I'll now grind the heart in him through his son.”
“An' what do you want to be done inquired the red man.
“Come here, an' I'll tell you that,” said Nell.
A short conversation took place between them, behind a little partition which divided the kitchen from two small sleeping rooms, containing a single bed each.
“Now,” said Nell, addressing the whole party, “let us all be ready to-morrow, while the whole town's preparin' for the fight, to slip away as well disguised as we can, out of the place; by that time you'll have your business done, an' your trifle o' money earned;” she directed the last words to the red-haired stranger.
“You keep me out of this secret?” observed Body.
“It's not worth knowin',” said Nell; “I was only thryin' you, Rody. It's nothing bad. I'm not so cruel as you think. I wouldn't take the wide world an' shed blood wid my own hands. I tried it once on Lamh Laudher More, an' when I thought I killed him hell came into me. No; that I may go below if I would!”