s took good care to keep me in touch with the facts
ever since I came here--so now then! You was after Chuff from the minute
he went to Vitifer Tin Mine, and I knew it. I weren't blind to the man and
I soon saw my revenge--fearful though it was."

"A funny sort of revenge," said Jenny, smiling at him. "I'm afraid, my
poor little man, your revenge have come back on your own silly head.
You've seen Bill Westaway, have you?"

"Yes, I have. And you needn't think to bluff it off. Every three months
since I went away he's been over here to tell me how my vengeance was
working."

"He knew all about your plot then, and that you weren't in the river?"

"He did so. A likely thing a man like me would drown hisself for a woman
like you. And terrible sorry he felt to bring me the fatal news of what
you was up to, though well I knew you would be. Nought astonished me. I
knew you'd wait a year, to save your shameful face, and then take Chuff."

"What a world!" said Jenny. "What dark, hookemsnivey creatures be in
it--men most times. Do you know who's been pestering me to marry him ever
since the people all thought you'd falled in the river and was drownded,
Nicky? Not Mr. Chuff, but Billy Westaway himself. He's your rival, my
dear, and none other. Fifty times has that man called on me to take him."

"You cunning liar! He hates women worse than I do."

"D'you know where he is this minute? Down on Dart pretending to hunt for
your bones. God's my judge, Nicholas White, if I ain't telling you the
truth."

The little wretch stared at her, and saw truth in her eyes, and felt all
his idiotic vengeance slipping away from him. He didn't want to believe in
her and made another struggle.

"What rummage be you talking, woman? Do you think you can sloke me off
with this stuff? Westaway's my friend through thick and thin. Be you mad,
or me?"

"Neither one nor t'other," she answered. "I thought to find you mad
naturally; but I'm not the sort to shirk my duty, whatever you are. For
better, for worse I took you, and I'd meant, if I found you cracked, to
put you away nice and comfortable in a proper asylum, where they'd look
after you, as became an unfortunate man with good friends. But you're not
mad, only deceived by a damned rascal. Drop that rock and come here and
listen to me."

He obeyed her and crept a foot or two nearer.

"What's happened be this," she said. "The Almighty have punished us for
loving each other too well. I've worshi