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In another moment he was crying madly for help in the road outside. For long there was no answer only the distant roar of the Downfall and the sweep of the wind. Then a labourer, on the path leading to the Wigsons' farm, heard and ran up. An hour later a doctor had been got hold of, and Hannah was lying upstairs, tended by Mrs. Wigson and Reuben. 'A paralytic seizure, said the doctor to Reuben.
But how ud yo get it made? He was beginning to feel a childish interest in his scheme. 'Me an Annie Wigson ud mak it oop fast enough. Theer are things I can do for her; she'd not want no payin, an she's fearfu' good at dressmakin. She wor prenticed two years afore she took ill. 'Gie me a kiss then, my gell; doan't yo gie naw trooble, an we'st see. But I mun get a good price, yo know.
Margaret came close to him and looked him all over. 'What for did she turn yo out, Davy? 'I wor late. I'd been fightin Jim Wigson, an she smelt me o' drink. And suddenly the lad sank down on a stool near, and laid his head in his hands, as though he could hold it up no longer. Margaret's blanched old face melted all in a minute.
In passionate emulation of Annie Wigson, she had it plaited behind, and had begged an end of blue ribbon of Mrs. Wigson to tie it with, so that the beautiful arch of the head showed more plainly than before, while the black eyes and brows seemed to have gained in splendour and effectiveness, from their simpler and severer setting.
'Why doan't he larn a trade? demanded Louie. 'Theer's Harry Wigson, he's gone to Manchester to be prenticed. He doan't goo loafin round aw day. Her sharp wits disconcerted Reuben. He looked anxiously at David. The boy coloured furiously, and cast an angry glance at his sister. 'Theer's money wanted for prenticin, he said shortly. Reuben felt a stab.
David was no sooner on his feet than he made another mad rush for Wigson, and it needed the combined efforts of landlord, landlady, and servant-girl to part the two again. Then the landlord, seizing David from behind by 'the scuft of the neck, ran him out to the door in a twinkling. 'Go 'long wi yo!
If it had been Jim Wigson it would have been different. Presently, on the path some sixty feet above them, but hidden from them by the mass of tumbled rocks through which they had descended, they heard someone puffing and blowing, a stick striking and slipping on the stones, and weird rays of light stole down the mountain-side, and in and out of the vast blocks with which it was overstrewn.
'Aye, they're a poor lot, returned David, shortly, and walked on as far in front of his uncle as might be, with his head in the air and his moody look fixed on the distance. 'T' Wigsons ull be late gettin whoam, began Reuben again, with an uneasy look at the boy. 'Owd Wigson wor that full up wi yell when I last seed him they'll ha a job to get him started straight this neet.
'Lor, yo are bleedin, she said compassionately; 'he shud ha thowt as how yo wor nobbut a lad an it wor he begun aggin fust. He's a big bully is Wigson. And impulsively raising her apron she applied it to the blood, David quite passive all the while. The great clumsy lass nearly kissed him for pity.
'And who was it gave Jim Wigson a box on the ears last fifth of November, in the lane just by the Dye-works, eh, Miss Louie? and danced with young Redway at the Upper Mill dance, New Year's Day? and had words with Mr. James at the office about her last "cut," a fortnight ago eh, Louie? 'What ever do you mean? she said, half crossly, her colour rising. 'You've been spying on me.
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