“You mind yer own business,” said Jerrem.

“If you was to do that you’d stay at home, then,” said Joan, dropping her voice; “but that’s you all over, tryin’ to put your finger into somebody’s else’s pie.—­I doubt whether ’twill over-please Adam either,” she added, coming back from watching them down the street; “but, there! if he and Eve’s to sail in one boat, the sooner he learns ’twon’t always be his turn to handle the tiller the better.”

* * * * *

It was getting on for three o’clock when Adam, having completed all the business he could accomplish on that day, was returning home.  He had been to the few gentlemen’s houses near, had visited most of the large farms around, and had found a good many customers ready to relieve him of a considerable portion of the spirit which, by reason of their living so near at hand, would thus evade much of the danger attendant on a more distant transfer.

Every one had heard of the recent attack on the Lottery, and much sympathy was expressed and many congratulations were tendered on account of their happy escape.

Adam was a general favorite, looked up to and respected as an honest, straight-forward fellow; and so little condemnation was felt against the trade carried on that the very magistrate consented to take a portion of the goods, and saw no breach of his office in the admonition he gave to keep a sharp lookout against these new-comers, who seemed somewhat over-inclined to show their teeth.

Adam spoke freely of the anxiety he felt as to the result of the encounter, but very few seemed to share it.  Most of them considered that, having escaped, with the exception of strengthened vigilance no further notice would be taken, so that his mind was considerably relieved about the matter, and his heart felt lighter and his pace more brisk in returning than when in the morning he had set out on his errand.

His last visit had been to Lizzen, and thence, instead of going back by the road, he struck across to the cliff by a narrow path known to him, and which would save him some considerable distance.

The day was perfect—­the sky cloudless, the sea tranquil:  the young verdure of the crag-crowned cliffs lay bathed in soft sunshine.  For a moment Adam paused, struck by the air of quiet calm which overspread everything around.  Not a breath of wind seemed abroad, not a sail in sight, not a sound to be heard.  A few scattered sheep were lazily feeding near; below them a man was tilling a fresh-cleared patch of ground; far away beyond two figures were standing side by side.

Involuntarily, Adam’s eyes rested on these two, and while he gazed upon them there sprang up into his heart the wish that Eve was here.  He wanted her—­wanted to remind her of the promise she had given him before they parted, the promise that on his return she would no longer delay, but tell him the day on which he might claim her for his wife.  A minute more, and with all speed he was making a straight cut across the cliff-side.  Disregarding the path, he scrambled over the projections of rock and trampled down the furze, with only one thought in his mind—­how soon he could reach home.