They argued over that a bit and Chawner cussed and swore, because he said the keepers would be on to ’em in half a minute and all lost.

And then he got another idea and challenged Samuel for the last time.

“List to this,” he said.  “Cicely will be sitting up, though it have gone midnight.  She knows I’m out on my occasions—­lawful or otherwise—­and she’ll be there with a bit of hot supper against my return.  We pass the door.  And if you’re still mad enough to hold out against me, you can hear her tell about it with your own ears and see if you are more to her than what I am.  She’ll hate your shadow when she hears tell of this.”

And Samuel, though his mind was in a pretty state by now, agreed to it.  Chawner’s confidence shook him a bit, for he wasn’t a vain man; and yet he saw pretty clear that Cicely would be called to decide betwixt father and lover in any case, and felt the sooner the ordeal was over the better for all concerned.  They went their way and never a word more would Borlase answer, though Green kept at him like a running brook to change his mind and act like a sensible man and not let a piece of folly spoil his own life.  But he bided dumb until they reached the home of the Greens; and there stood Cicely at the gate with the moon throwing its light upon her and making her lint-white locks like snow.

“Powers in Heaven!” cried Cicely.  “What be this, father?”

And her parent made haste to tell her, while Sam stood mute.  But when she heard all, the maiden made it exceeding clear how she felt on the subject and turned upon Borlase very short and sharp.

“Let’s have enough of this nonsense, Sam,” she said, “You know me and I know you.  You be more to me than ever I thought a living man could be, and I love the ground under your feet, and I be your life also, unless you’re a liar.  So that’s that.  But a father’s a father, and because my father is more to me, after you, than all the world together, I’ll ask you please to drop this tragedy-acting and go about your business and let him come in the house.  Give me that gun and get to your work, and kiss me afore you go.”

She stretched out her hand for the gun, but he wouldn’t part with it.  He stared upon her and the sweat stood in beads all over his big face.

“This be a night of doom seemingly, and I little thought you’d ever beg for anything I could give as would be denied, Sis,” he said; “but you be called to see this with my eyes.  I’ve had the cruel misfortune to catch Mr. Green doing evil, and well he knowed he was; and duty’s duty, so he must come along with me.  And if you know me, as well as you do know me, you know there’s nought else possible for me now.”

She lifted her voice for her father, however, and strove to show him what a pitiful small thing it was.

“What stuff are you made of, my dear man?” cried Cicely.  “Be a wretched bird that nobody owns, and may have flown to Trusham from the other side of the country, going to make you outrage my father and disgrace his family?  I could be cross if I didn’t reckon you was in a waking dream.”