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Updated: May 19, 2025
Left to herself, and as Nicky-Nan passed out of sight around the corner beyond the bridge, Miss Charity Oliver warily opened her palm and examined the guinea. "By rights," she mused, "I ought to take this in to Mrs Penhaligon at once, and caution her about Alcibiades. . . . No, I won't, though. I'll call first and have it out with Mary-Martha.
At this point Nicky-Nan fairly lost command of his temper. "So you're one wi' the rest, eh? All in one blasted conspiracy to turn me to doors! One comes threatenin', t'other comes carneyin', but all endin' in the same lidden. 'Your health ben't the best, Nanjivell: let me recommend a change of air. 'Nanjivell, you're a fine upstandin' fellow, an' young for your age.
"And on quarter-day, ma'am, 'twill be your turn. It beats me how you can take it so quiet." Let's be thankful we're not like they poor folk abroad, to have our homes overrun by this War." "'War'?" Nicky-Nan recollected himself with an effort. "Seemin' to me you're all taken up with it. As though there weren't other things in this world " "If only the Almighty'll send my Sam home safe an' well!"
"An' why should Mr Nanjivell be followin' you, of all people? An' where's my blessed latest, that has been a handful ever since you two left me, well knowin' the straits I'm put to?" "If I'm introodin', ma'am " said the voice of Nicky-Nan. "Oh, no . . . not at all, Mr Nanjivell! so long as you realise how I'm situated. . . . An' whoever left that oven door open, I'll swear I didn't."
But now that can't be, for the woman's gone to Satan these three months. . . . An' my missus gone too poor tender heart an' lookin' down on me, that was rash enough to bet her sixpence on it, an' now no means to pay up." "Who was the other?" demanded Nicky-Nan, frowning over the letter, his face flushing as he frowned. "You're goin' to read it to me, ben't you?"
"It doesn't seem to trouble yours," retorted Mrs Polsue, at bay and vicious; "or maybe it has, and that's why you're not with the Reserve." Nicky-Nan flushed to the roots of his hair. But he answered pacifically "Until I go, ma'am, you may take it from me that Mrs Penhaligon shan't want. I fixed all that up with her husband afore he left.
"Between you an' me, again," he confessed, "I got to do my four miles or so every day, for the sake o' my figger." "'Tis unfortunate then," said Nicky-Nan, taking heart of grace and lying hardily: "for you've missed a lovely dog-fight." "Where? Whose?" Rat-it-all panted, suddenly all alive and inquisitive.
The ray, smiting full in his eyes for a moment or two, hid from him all details of the landscape ahead and on his left, even as effectually as it hid the stars of night. Nicky-Nan hobbled on for a few paces, blinking. Then, with a catch of the breath, he came to a halt. His vision clearing by degrees, he let out a gasp and his knees shook under him.
"What in thunder's wrong with ye?" asked the Doctor, very coolly taking a third chair, seating himself astraddle on it, and crossing his arms over the top. "No harm to be taken patching up a bit of plaster, is there?" Again he eyed the ceiling. "I I beg your pardon, Doctor," answered Nicky-Nan, recollecting himself. "But I live pretty lonely here, and the children "
Nicky-Nan slid a hand into his trouser-pocket, where his fingers met the reassuring touch of half-a-dozen sovereigns he carried there for earnest of his good fortune. "And on the understanding that I claim possession whenever it suits me. When I say 'the understanding, of course, there's no bargain implied. I am in a position to do as I like at any time. I want to make that clear."
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