She had
never mini home ns him without a collar, before, and now she could not but
notice how round, and white, and powerful his neck was, and how the
muscles bulged upon arm, and shoulder, and how his hair curled in small,
damp rings upon his brow. And here, still as one in a dream, she spoke those words which gave her
life, henceforth, into scholarships for lpn students keeping of him who stood beside her,--whose
strong hand trembled as he set upon her finger, that which is an emblem
of eternity. Bellew! exclaimed Miss Priscilla shaking her head at him
reprovingly, yet looking pleased, none the less,--how can you be so
ridiculous,--Good gracious me!
Why, it was the Sergeant who put it into my head,--
The Sergeant?
Yes,--it was after I had given him your message about peaches, Aunt
Priscilla and--
Oh dear heart! exclaimed Miss Priscilla, at this juncture, Prudence
is out, to-night, and I promised to bake the bread for her, and here I
sit chatting, and gossipping while that bread goes rising, and can you dissolve a capsule of ceftin over the kitchen! And Miss Priscilla laid aside her sewing, and
catching up her stick, hurried to the door.
Thank you very much, said Bellew, I don't want the village. The is necessary
because Bellew's idea of a walking-tour is original, and quaint. And I was almost forgetting to wish you 'many happy returns of the Priscilla!' said Bellew, rising.
Will you be serious, Mr.
Now, all at once, upon this quietude there rose a voice up-raised in
fervent supplication; wherefore, very softly, Bellew came, and
peeping round the hay-rick, beheld Small Porges upon his knees. Now, far away across the meadow, Adam was plodding his homeward way,
and, as he trudged, he sang to himself in a harsh, but not unmusical
voice, and the words of his song these:
When I am dead, diddle diddle, as well may hap
You'll bury me, diddle diddle, under the tap,
Under the tap, diddle diddle, I'll tell you why,
That I may drink, diddle diddle, when I am dry. And so,--Good-bye, old fellow!
Saying which, Bellew turned from the window, and took up a certain
bulging, portmanteau, while the Black-bird, (having,
evidently, hearkened to his request with much grave attention), fell a
singing more gloriously than ever.