but Ephraim
Shine had lifted one boot on to his knee, and was examining a hole in the
sole with bird-like curiosity.

'When I think my boy needs special savin' I'll send for you, Mr. Shine--

'It'd be a grave responsibility, a trial an' a constant triberlation, but
I offer myself. I'll be a father to your boy, ma'am, barrin' objections.'

'An' what is meant by that, Mr. Shine?'

The widow, flushed of face, with her work thrust forward in her lap and a
steely light in her fine eyes, regarded the searcher steadily.

'An offer of marriage to yourself is meant, Mrs. Haddon, ma'am.'

Shine's eyes came sliding up under his brows till they encountered those
of Mrs. Haddon; then they fell again suddenly. The little widow tapped
the table impressively with her thimbled finger, and her breast heaved.

'Do you remember Frank Hardy, Ephraim Shine?'

'To be certain I do.'

'Well, man, you may have heard what Frank Hardy was to me before he went
to--to--'

'To gaol, Mrs. Haddon? Yes.'

'Listen to this, then. What Frank Hardy was to me before he is still,
only more dear, an' I'd as lief everybody in Waddy knew it.'

'A gaol-bird an' a thief he is.'

'He is in gaol, an' that may make a gaol-bird of him, but he is no thief.
'Twas you got him into gaol, an' now you dare do this.'

Shine's slate-coloured eyes slid up and fell again.

''Twas done in the way o' duty. He don't deny I found the gold on him.'

'No, but he denies ever havin' seen it in his life before, an' I believe
him.'

'An' about that cunnin' little trap in his boot-heel, ma'am?'

'It was what he said it was--the trick of some enemy.'

Mr. Shine lifted his right boot as if trying its weight, groaned and set
it down again, tried the other, and said:

'An' who might the enemy ha' been, d'ye think?'

I do not know, but--I am Frank Hardy's friend, and you may not abuse him
in my house.'

'You have a chance o' a respectable man, missus.' Mrs. Haddon had risen
from her seat and was standing over her visitor, a buxom black-gowned
little fury.

'An' I tell him to go about his business, an' that's the way.' The
gesture the widow threw at her humble kitchen door was magnificent. 'But
stay,' she cried, although the imperturbable Shine had not shown the
slightest intention of moving. 'You've heard I went with Frank's mother
to visit him in the gaol there at the city; p'r'aps you're curious to
know what I said. Well, I'll tell you, an' you can tell all Waddy