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'Then John Crumb's a fool for his pains, that's all; and now do you go about your work. Ruby didn't like to be told to go about her work, and tossed her head, and slammed the kitchen door, and scolded the servant girl, and then sat down to cry. What was she to do with herself now?
This man whom they had arrested was respectable also, and was the girl's proper lover. The other man who had been beaten was undoubtedly the owner of a title; but he was not respectable, and was only the girl's improper lover. And John Crumb's name was given. 'I'm John Crumb of Bungay, said he, 'and I ain't afeared of nothin' nor nobody. And I ain't a been a drinking; no, I ain't.
'You sholl get up, said John, taking him by the collar of his coat and lifting him. 'Now, Ruby, he's a-going to have it, said John. Whereupon Ruby screamed at the top of her voice, with a shriek very much louder than that which had at first attracted John Crumb's notice. 'Don't hit a man when he's down, said the baronet, pleading as though for his life.
If you go as John Crumb's wife you'll go with five hun'erd pound, and we'll have a dinner here, and a dance, and all Bungay. 'Who cares for all Bungay, a set of beery chaps as knows nothing but swilling and smoking; and John Crumb the main of 'em all? There never was a chap for beer like John Crumb.
'A deal too good for Ruby Ruggles, said Mrs Pipkin. 'And he can maintain a wife. Mr Carbury says as he's as well to do as any tradesman down in them parts. Mrs Hurtle disliked the name of Mr Carbury, and took this last statement as no evidence in John Crumb's favour. 'I don't know that I think better of the man for having Mr Carbury's friendship, she said.
The reader need hardly be told that Roger was not at all disposed to quarrel with Mr Crumb, because the victim of Crumb's heroism had been his own cousin. Crumb had acted well, and had never said a word about Sir Felix since his return to the country.
Why could she not even close her eyes? Crumb raised the knife and held the blade close above her bared neck. A shudder ran through her, and then the door crashed open and a man sprang into the room. It was Billy Byrne. Through the window he had seen what was passing in the interior. His hand fell upon Crumb's collar and jerked him backward from his prey.
I'll be arter her at once, said John Crumb. But there was no train till night, and Roger Carbury was doubtful whether his going would do any good. It was evidently fixed on Crumb's mind that the first step towards finding Ruby would be the breaking of every bone in the body of Sir Felix Carbury. Now it was not at all apparent to the squire that his cousin had had anything to do with this affair.
He was accompanied by his friend Joe Mixet, the baker of Bungay, who, as all Bungay knew, was to be his best man at his marriage. John Crumb's character was not without any fine attributes. He could earn money, and having earned it could spend and keep it in fair proportion. He was afraid of no work, and, to give him his due, was afraid of no man. He was honest, and ashamed of nothing that he did.
No doubt he had now come to talk about his love, and in order that his confessions might not be made before all the assembled haymakers, Roger Carbury hurried to meet him. There was soon evident on Crumb's broad face a whole sunshine of delight. As Roger approached him he began to laugh aloud, and to wave a bit of paper that he had in his hands.
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