Then he rose, brushed himself
with his hands, and slunk quickly from the bank. Had he looked
anywhere but on the ground, he must have seen me; as it was, I
only narrowly avoided him, and fell again into my place behind
him. All the way back to our garden I followed him. As he
passed through the gate, I quickened my pace, overtook him, and
laid my hand on his arm. The man's face gave me what I remember
my old nurse used to call "quite a turn."
"You're an average idiot, aren't you?" said I. "Oh, yes; I've
been squatting in the wet by that infernal river, too. You ought
to get three months, by rights."
He looked at me in a dazed sort of way.
"I daren't," he said. "I wanted to, but I daren't."
There is really nothing more. We went to the wedding, leaving
Smugg in bed; and in the evening we, leaving Smugg still in bed
(I told Mary to keep an eye on him), and carrying a dozen of the
grocer's best port, went up to dance at Dill's farm. Joe was
polished till I could almost see myself in his cheek, and Pyrrha
looked more charming than ever. She and Joe were to leave us
early, to go to Joe's own house in the village, but I managed to
get one dance with her. Indeed, I believe she wanted a word
with me.
"Well, all's well that ends well, isn't it?" I began. "No more
scoldings! Not from Mrs. Dill, anyhow."
"You can't let that alone, sir," said Pyrrha.
I chuckled gently.
"Oh, I'll never refer to it again," said I.
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