“Well, perhaps she might,” replied Jemmy, “if he were a judge of understanding.”

“I should think, Mistress Nancy, you might as well leave my husband’s legs alone,” observed Moggy, affronted.

“Lord bless you, Moggy, if he’s not angry, you surely should not be; I give a joke, and I can take one.  You surely are not jealous?”

“Indeed I am though, and always shall be of anyone who plays with my Jemmy.”

“Or if he plays with anything else?”

“Yes, indeed.”

“Yes, indeed! then you must be downright jealous of his fiddle, Moggy,” replied Nancy; “but never mind, you sha’n’t be jealous now about nothing.  I’ll sing you a song, and then you’ll forget all this.”  Nancy Corbett then sang as follows: 

     Fond Mary sat on Henry’s knee,
     “I must be home exact,” said he,
       “And see, the hour is come.” 
     “No, Henry, you shall never go
     Until me how to count you show;
       That task must first be done.”

     Then Harry said, “As time is short,
     Addition you must first be taught;—­
       Sum up these kisses sweet;

     “Now prove your sum by kissing me:—­
     Yes, that is right, ’twas three times three—­
       Arithmetic’s a treat.

     “And now there is another term,
     Subtraction you have yet to learn;
       Take four away from these.” 
     “Yes, that is right, you’ve made it out,”
     Says Mary, with a pretty pout,
       “Subtraction don’t me please.”

     Division’s next upon the list;
     Young Henry taught while Mary kissed,
       And much admired the rule;
     “Now, Henry, don’t you think me quick?”
     “Why, yes, indeed, you’ve learned the trick;
       At kissing you’re no fool.”

     To multiply was next the game,
     Which Henry by the method same,
       To Mary fain would show;
     But here his patience was worn out,
     She multiplied too fast I doubt,
       He could no farther go.

     “And now we must leave off, my dear;
     The other rules are not so clear,
       We’ll try at them to-night;”
     “I’ll come at eve, my Henry sweet;
     Behind the hawthorn hedge we’ll meet,
       For learning’s my delight.”

“That’s a very pretty song, Mistress Corbett, and you’ve a nice collection, I’ve no doubt.  If you’ve no objection, I’ll exchange another with you.”

“I should be most willing, Mr Salisbury; but we are now getting well over, and we may as well be quiet, as I do not wish people to ask where we are going.”

“You’re right, ma’am,” observed the old fisherman, who pulled the boat.  “Put up your fiddle, master; there be plenty on the look out, without our giving them notice.”

“Very true,” replied Jemmy, “so we break up our concert.”

The whole party were now silent.  In a quarter of an hour the boat was run into a cut, which concealed it from view; and, as soon as the fisherman had looked round to see the coast clear, they landed and made haste to pass by the cottages; after that Nancy slackened her pace, and they walked during the night over to the other side of the island, and arrived at the cottages above the cave.