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"Where did you get that?" Miss Oliver's eyes were notoriously sharp. Her voice rapped out the question in a way that made 'Biades blink and clasp the coin again as he cast a desperate look behind him in search of retreat. "Mr Nanjivell gave it to me." "Mr Nanjivell! . . . He couldn't!" Miss Oliver took a step forward. 'Biades lowered his head. "If you come a step closer I'll butt 'ee!"
Why, what's that you've a-got clinched in your hand?" "Sufferin's!" sobbed 'Biades, still shaken by an after-gust of fright. "What?" "Sufferin's!" echoed 'Beida excitedly. "Real coined an' golden sufferin's! Unclinch your hand, 'Biades, an' show the company!" As the child opened his palm, Mrs Penhaligon fell back, and put out a hand against the kitchen table for support.
"How can you tell a Spy?" persisted 'Biades after another pause, ignoring reproof. "Does he go about with a gamey leg, like Mr Nanjivell? Or what?" "Don't you set up to laugh at gamey legs or any such infirmity," his mother warned him, "when there's an All-seein' Eye about; an', for all we know, around the corner at this moment gettin' ready to strike you comical."
"You will hear more of this, Nanjivell," he threatened, turning about in the doorway. "Gas, again!" said 'Beida. Nicky-Nan stood silent, pointing. The retreat was not dignified. "But, o' course," said 'Beida, "the bottom of it all was 'Biades." "'Biades?" "He'd caught up with some chatter about your bein' a spy. Oh, bless your soul, everybody's talkin' about it!" she assured Nicky-Nan cheerfully.
Bless his tender heart, I s'pose I ought to say, seein' as how providential " "You can put it which way you like. I dessay God A'mighty has the right an' wrong of it clear; an' 'Bert an' I allowed we'd leave 'Biades to a Higher Power after we'd made him sensible, on the seat of his breeches, of the way his conduc' appealed to us.
Indeed, he showed less of annoyance with his critics than of boredom with 'Biades, who, whichever way his big brother turned, revolved punctually as a satellite, never relaxing his rapt, upward gaze of idolatry. "You can shut your heads, the whole lot," said 'Bert airily. "First thing to-morrow mornin' the half of 'ee'll be startin' over for St Martin's to enlist; an' you know it.
Mr Nanjivell said as I couldn' learn too early to lay by against a rainy day, and I was to take it to Missis Pengelly's and if it took the form of trousers he didn' mind. Mother wanted me to put it in the savings bank, but he wouldn' hear of it. He said they weren't to be trusted any longer not savings banks. He said " "But where did he get it?" 'Biades blinked, and set his face hardily.
For the last two days the blessed child might not ha' been in existence, he's such a comfort." "Well," said 'Beida, "you may be right. But I never yet knowed 'Biades quiet for half this time 'ithout there was somebody's bill to pay at the end o't."
Anyhow, the child 'Biades turned and took refuge in the shop, hurling back the door-flap and its clanging bell. This left Miss Oliver without, in the awkwardest of situations: since she had a conscience as well as curiosity. This would never do, of course. . . . Yet she could not very well follow in at this moment and explain to Mrs Pengelly. Moreover, here was a mystery connected with Nanjivell.
She'll look after 'Biades an' see that he don't put 'Lead us, Heavenly Father, lead us' into his mouth, though 'tis where he puts most things." "But you're goin' to the Treat yourself, ma'am?" Nicky-Nan suggested. "What, in this rig-out? Catch me!" answered Mrs Penhaligon, not with literal intention but idiomatically. "No, I'm but goin' up to see 'em off decent.
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