She found Robert with his arm doubled over a basin, and Susan sponging cold water on it.

“No bones broken, mother!” he sang out.  “I’m sound; all right again.  Six hours have done it this time.  Is it a thaw?  You needn’t tell me what the old dad has been saying.  I shall be ready to breakfast in half an hour.”

“Lord, what a big arm it is!” exclaimed the widow.  “And no wonder, or how would you be a terror to men?  You naughty boy, to think of stirring!  Here you’ll lie.”

“Ah, will I?” said Robert:  and he gave a spring, and sat upright in the bed, rather white with the effort, which seemed to affect his mind, for he asked dubiously, “What do I look like, mother?”

She brought him the looking-glass, and Susan being dismissed, he examined his features.

“Dear!” said the widow, sitting down on the bed; “it ain’t much for me to guess you’ve got an appointment.”

“At twelve o’clock, mother.”

“With her?” she uttered softly.

“It’s with a lady, mother.”

“And so many enemies prowling about, Robert, my dear!  Don’t tell me they didn’t fall upon you last night.  I said nothing, but I’d swear it on the Book.  Do you think you can go?”

“Why, mother, I go by my feelings, and there’s no need to think at all, or God knows what I should think.”

The widow shook her head.  “Nothing ’ll stop you, I suppose?”

“Nothing inside of me will, mother.”

“Doesn’t she but never mind.  I’ve no right to ask, Robert; and if I have curiosity, it’s about last night, and why you should let villains escape.  But there’s no accounting for a man’s notions; only, this I say, and I do say it, Nic Sedgett, he’s at the bottom of any mischief brewed against you down here.  And last night Stephen Bilton, or somebody, declared that Nic Sedgett had been seen up at Fairly.”

“Selling eggs, mother.  Why shouldn’t he?  We mustn’t complain of his getting an honest livelihood.”

“He’s black-blooded, Robert; and I never can understand why the Lord did not make him a beast in face.  I’m told that creature’s found pleasing by the girls.”

“Ugh, mother, I’m not.”

“She won’t have you, Robert?”

He laughed.  “We shall see to-day.”

“You deceiving boy!” cried the widow; “and me not know it’s Mrs. Lovell you’re going to meet! and would to heaven she’d see the worth of ye, for it’s a born lady you ought to marry.”

“Just feel in my pockets, mother, and you won’t be so ready with your talk of my marrying.  And now I’ll get up.  I feel as if my legs had to learn over again how to bear me.  The old dad, bless his heart! gave me sound wind and limb to begin upon, so I’m not easily stumped, you see, though I’ve been near on it once or twice in my life.”

Mrs. Boulby murmured, “Ah! are you still going to be at war with those gentlemen, Robert?”