to th' other. But ere I could do or say aught, comes that lass o' mine,
and ups with th' babe in her arms, and he roaring as lustily as any
bull-calf with th' wound in 's little brown arm, and she sees where the
beast hath bitten him. Then sets she him down again on my lap, and runs
and fetches a bar o' iron and heats it i' th' forge till 'tis white-hot,
and all th' time th' poor father a-sobbing, and kissing of th' babe, and
calling on me to help him, like as though I were God Almighty. And while
he was so doing, and the babe like to burst with weeping, and I gone mad
with not knowing what to be at, comes that wench, comrade, and jerks up
th' babe, and sets th' white-hot metal in 's soft flesh.

Ay, comrade, a did, and a held it there till where th' dog's fangs had
been was burned as black as th' anvil. And then, when 'tis done, and th'
babe again upon 's feet, and we two for praising and blessing o' her,
down drops she all in a heap on th' floor atween us, like a hawk that
hath been smitten in mid-heaven. Then 'twas, comrade, that th' babe was
left to endure his pain as best he might; never thought more did 's
father give him that day; but he runs and lifts th' lass in 's strong
arms, and bears her out into th' fresh air, and he calls her his
"dear," and his "own," and "his life," and his "Keren," till, had 't not
been for my lass's coming back to life, I would 'a' struck him on th'
mouth for a-speaking so unto her, and he th' husband o' another woman.

But no sooner opes she her eyes than he hath both her hands hid in one
o' his, and close against his breast, and she lying back in 's arms as
though she were any chrisom child, and her big eyes wide on his, and he
saith to her,

"Lass! lass!" saith he, "I ha' come to marry thee, an thou wilt have
me," quoth he. "I ha' come to marry thee; and may God bless thee for
saving th' child!"

Then did I understand; but she saith, with her great eyes not
moving--saith she--only one word--"Ruth?" saith she, even so, once, low
like that--"Ruth?"

"Ay, lass, I know," he saith unto her. "I know," he saith. "But all's
well with Ruth. Ruth is in heaven."

Then saith she, while a light leaps out o' her tearful eyes, like as
when the sun doth shine suddenly through April rain--saith she, as she
were breathing her life into th' words,

"Methinks I be there too."

And also did I understand her, how that she meant that to be lying in
th' arms o' him she loved, after all those wear