Part 23 (1/2)
The woman opened her eyes widely.
”That's a long way! You must be fairly strong for your age. Where are ye wantin' to get to?”
”Cornwall.”
”My word! You've got a goodish bit to go. All Devon lies before you.”
”I know that. But I shall rest here and there, and perhaps get a lift or two if I meet any more such kind-hearted folk as yourself.”
She looked at him sharply.
”That's what we may call a bit o' soft soap,” she said, ”and I'd advise ye to keep that kind o' thing to yourself, old man! It don't go down with Meg Ross, I can tell ye!”
”Are you Meg Ross?” he asked, amused at her manner.
”That's me! I'm known all over the countryside for the sharpest tongue as ever wagged in a woman's head. So you'd better look out!”
”I'm not afraid of you!” he said smiling.
”Well, you might be if you knew me!” and she whipped up her pony smartly. ”Howsomever, you're old enough to be past hurtin' or bein'
hurt.”
”That's true!” he responded gently.
She was silent after this, and not till Watchett was reached did she again begin conversation. Rattling quickly through the little watering-place, which at this hour seemed altogether deserted or asleep, she pulled up at an inn in the middle of the princ.i.p.al street.
”I've got an order to deliver here,” she said. ”What are _you_ going to do with yourself?”
”Nothing in particular,” he answered, with a smile. ”I shall just take my little dog to a chemist's and get its paw dressed, and then I shall walk on.”
”Don't you want any dinner?”
”Not yet. I had a good breakfast, I daresay I'll have a gla.s.s of milk presently.”
”Well, if you come back here in half an hour I can drive you on a little further. How would you like that?”
”Very much! But I'm afraid of troubling you----”
”Oh, you won't do that!” said Meg with a defiant air. ”No man, young or old, has ever troubled _me_! I'm not married, thank the Lord!”
And jumping from the cart, she began to pull out sundry cans, jars, and boxes, while Helmsley standing by with the small Charlie under his arm, wished he could help her, but felt sure she would resent a.s.sistance even if he offered it. Glancing at him, she gave him a kindly nod.
”Off you go with your little dog! You'll find me ready here in half an hour.”
With that she turned from him into the open doorway of the inn, and Helmsley made his way slowly along the silent, sun-baked little street till he found a small chemist's shop, where he took his lately found canine companion to have its wounded paw examined and attended to. No bones were broken, and the chemist, a lean, pale, kindly man, a.s.sured him that in a few days the little animal would be quite well.
”It's a pretty creature,” he said. ”And valuable too.”
”Yes. I found it on the highroad,” said Helmsley; ”and of course if I see any advertis.e.m.e.nt out for it, I'll return it to its owner. But if no one claims it I'll keep it.”
”Perhaps it fell out of a motor-car,” said the chemist. ”It looks as if it might have belonged to some fine lady who was too wrapped up in herself to take proper care of it. There are many of that kind who come this way touring through Somerset and Devon.”
”I daresay you're right,” and Helmsley gently stroked the tiny dog's soft silky coat. ”Rich women will pay any amount of money for such toy creatures out of mere caprice, and will then lose them out of sheer laziness, forgetting that they are living beings, with feelings and sentiments of trust and affection greater sometimes than our own.