t the sailor's bellowing; bless his heart, I knew as well that
tears were in his brave keen eyes, as if I had dared to look for them,
or to show mine own.

"And what was the lady's name?" I asked; "and what became of the little
girl? And why did the woman stay there?"

"Well!" cried Jeremy Stickles, only too glad to be cheerful again: "talk
of a woman after that! As we used to say at school--Who dragged whom,
how many times, in what manner, round the wall of what?" But to begin,
last first, my John (as becomes a woman): Benita stayed in that blessed
place, because she could not get away from it. The Doones--if Doones
indeed they were, about which you of course know best--took every stiver
out of the carriage: wet or dry they took it. And Benita could never get
her wages: for the whole affair is in Chancery, and they have appointed
a receiver."

"Whew!" said I, knowing something of London, and sorry for Benita's
chance.

"So the poor thing was compelled to drop all thought of Apulia, and
settle down on the brink of Exmoor, where you get all its evils, without
the good to balance them. She married a man who turned a wheel for
making the blue Watchett ware, partly because he could give her a house,
and partly because he proved himself a good soul towards my Lady. There
they are, and have three children; and there you may go and visit them."

"I understand all that, Jeremy, though you do tell things too quickly,
and I would rather have John Fry's style; for he leaves one time for
his words to melt. Now for my second question. What became of the little
maid?"

"You great oaf!" cried Jeremy Stickles: "you are rather more likely to
know, I should think, than any one else in all the kingdoms."

"If I knew, I should not ask you. Jeremy Stickles, do try to be neither
conceited nor thick-headed."

"I will when you are neither," answered Master Jeremy; "but you occupy
all the room, John. No one else can get in with you there."

"Very well then, let me out. Take me down in both ways."

"If ever you were taken down; you must have your double joints ready
now. And yet in other ways you will be as proud and set up as Lucifer.
As certain sure as I stand here, that little maid is Lorna Doone."

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CHAPTER LIV

MUTUAL DISCOMFITURE

[Illustration: 483.jpg Illustrated Capital]

It must not be supposed that I was altogether so thick-headed as Jeremy
would have made me out. But it is pa