"
"Amen," I yawned. "I love the land, and call it home. My withers
are unwrung."
He rose to his feet, and began to pace the greensward before the
door. My eyes followed his trim figure, richly though sombrely
clad, then fell with a sudden dissatisfaction upon my own stained
and frayed apparel.
"Ralph," he said presently, coming to a stand before me, "have you
ever an hundred and twenty pounds of tobacco in hand? If not, I" -
"I have the weed," I replied. "What then?"
"Then at dawn drop down with the tide to the city, and secure for
thyself one of these same errant damsels."
I stared at him, and then broke into laughter, in which, after a
space and unwillingly, he himself joined. When at length I wiped
the water from my eyes it was quite dark, the whippoorwills had
begun to call, and Rolfe must needs hasten on. I went with him
down to the gate.
"Take my advice, - it is that of your friend," he said, as he swung
himself into the saddle. He gathered up the reins and struck spurs
into his horse, then turned to call back to me: "Sleep upon my
words, Ralph, and the next time I come I look to see a farthingale
behind thee!"
"Thou art as like to see one upon me," I answered.
Nevertheless, when he had gone, and I climbed the bank and
re‰ntered the house, it was with a strange pang at the cheerlessness
of my hearth, and an angry and unreasoning impatience at the lack
of welcoming face or voice.
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