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What Myry seeked for and found, she can have for all of me." The listening girl knew there was hatred in the father's tones for Ben Letts. Well, she had hated Ben too, but he was all Myra's now, and there was no more hatred for the ugly squatter in the heart of Tessibel. "She air a-smilin', Satisfied," Tess said again.
Letts, lighting another cigarette. The woman assented and sat looking over the sea. "Ever done any cooking?" asked Mr. Letts, presently. "Plenty," was the surprised reply. "Why?" "I just wanted to ask you how long you would boil a bit o' beef," said Mr. Letts. "Only from curiosity; I should never ship as cook again."
She went back for more milk, wetting the corner of the cloth and wiping little Dan's face. Then she gazed straight at Ben Letts, and said, "How air yer mammy?" It seemed the most natural thing that she should ask this of him. "She air well," answered Ben, thrown off his guard. He took out his pipe, and continued: "When ye comes to the shanty, ye can't bring that brat."
Sandy growled inarticulately, gave a kick to the floor, and rattled the latch. "I want to come in, I said. I air goin' to talk to ye!" Tessibel thought of Ben Letts and of how he, too, had demanded entrance to her home in just such a manner as his cousin was doing now. She glanced about for something with which to protect herself if needed.
His glance swept over Ben's prostrate body to the death-like child. Letts sat up with an oath, rubbing the inflicted bruises. Frederick helped him to his feet. "You go home," he said, piercing the fisherman with his burning eyes. "And let me warn you against fastening any of your lies upon this girl, for whatever she is, or whatever she has done, I know that you lied to-night.... Now go!"
The Red Guards composed of the Letts and sailors were fiercely counter-attacking and threatening to sweep back the line and capture field-headquarters.
According to the ideas of all who knew her, save her father and Myra Longman, Tessibel was full of eccentric traits; for who but Tess would feel the "mollygrubs," as Ben Letts had said, at the wriggling of the agonized perch and pickerel, as they flopped painfully upon the sands; or who but Tess would mind the squeaking of the mother-bird calling for her own.
It made her happier, too, to think he knew about Andy Bishop and was going to help him. The only person she feared was Sandy Letts. She'd not seen him since that day in the church when he had tried to draw her nearer the minister. Bitterly angry, she knew he must be. That he had delayed his revenge so long seemed to her rather menacing than comforting.
"Sure, they be happy!" she ejaculated. "Everybody air happy in Heaven; Ben Letts air a singin' 'round the throne jest the same's the rest of 'em air." In open disbelief Longman slowly shook his head. "Myry never could sing Myry couldn't," he answered, moodily, and his voice sank on the last two words.
"Does he know of Letts' trying to force her to marry him?" asked Helen. "I've never told him. Possibly the girl has." "I think not," answered Helen, gravely. "He'd have mentioned it to me, I think!" As her brother passed Madelene, he tweaked her ear. "Just clear your pretty head of further worry, little kitten ... See?" Madelene caught his hand affectionately in hers.
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