Part 54 (1/2)

Caleb did not wait for the end of the sentence, but darting out, discovered the brothers in the porch, and haled them back.

”I beg your pardon most heartily,” said Mr. Fogo, as they appeared; ”the fact is--”

”There's no call, sir. I reckon us'll get the grip o't wi' time an'

practice; on'y bein' new to the ropes, so to spake--”

Mr. Fogo looked at Tamsin. She broke into a merry laugh.

It snapped the spell. The Twins, who had been waiting on each other for a lead with the first spoonful of soup, set down their spoons and joined in, at first decorously, then with uproar.

”Talk 'bout fun!” gasped Peter at length, with tears in his eyes, ”Bill Stickles at the Market Ord'nary can't match et--an' he's reckoned a tip-topper for fun. An' this es fash'n! Well, I never did. Ho, ho, ho!”

From this moment the success of the dinner was a.s.sured. All talked, and talked with freedom. The brothers threw off their restraint, and were their natural and well-mannered selves. It is true that Peter would pause now and again to slap his thigh and renew his mirth; it is true also that he continued to wear his white gloves throughout the meal. But he pocketed them when Caleb removed the cloth, and the company fell into more easy postures.

It was late that evening when the Twins consulted their watches and rose to go, and as yet nothing had been said on the subject nearest to Mr. Fogo's heart. He motioned them back to their seats.

”There is still one more question that I must ask you,” he said, rising and stepping to Tamsin's side. ”You guess what it is?”

”I mou't,” admitted Peter slowly.

”I ask you, then, if Tamsin has your leave to make me happy.

Knowing what it costs you--”

”No cost, sir, where our little maid's happiness es consarned.

Tamsin knaws that, but 't 'as been the harder to talk wi' her as us shud ha' wished, an' that there's no denyin'. Us knawed all along she'd be leavin' us some day, an' oft'n Paul an' me have a-made up each other's mind to 't. I mis...o...b..s, sir--I mis...o...b..s sorely-- seein' 'tes _you_ her heart es set to marry--meanin' no offence, sir.

But as _'tes_ set--Tamsin, girl, we'll be goin', I reckon.

I'm thinkin' I've a-parted wi' enough o' my heart's blud for wan night.”

He moved towards the door, but came back again to shake hands, with a word of self-reproach for his lack of courtesy. Then, with a tenderness almost motherly on his mahogany face--

”Be gentle wi' her,” he said. ”She's quick to larn--an' takes cold aisy, which, ef seen to early, a little nitre will a'most al'ays pervent. Come 'long, Tamsin.”

CHAPTER XXV.

WHICH ENDS THE STORY OF TROY.

The wedding took place in less than two months after Mr. Fogo's dinner-party. A longer interval would have proved, I believe, fatal to both Peter and Paul, who wore themselves thin over small anxieties, from the trousseau to the cake.

Three days before the wedding, for instance, they rowed down to Kit's House and awoke Caleb at 4.30 a.m. by throwing gravel against his window.

”Oh, 'tes you,” said Caleb, as he thrust open the lattice; ”what's amiss now?”

”We have been considerin' which of us two es to gi'e Tamsin away.”

”Toss up.”

”We _have_ tossed up--scores o' times.”

”Well?”