"These notes will make sure. Give one to the farmer, and one to Ruby,
as they stand by the chancel rails. But mainly it rests with you.
Take no denial. Say you've come to make her your wife, and won't leave
the church till you've done it. She's still the same woman as when she
threw you over. Ah, sir, we men change our natures; but woman is always
Eve. I suppose you know a short cut to the church? Very well.
I shall take your cart and mare, and drive to meet the press-gang, who
won't be in the sweetest of tempers just now. Come, what are you
waiting for? You're ten minutes late as it is, and you can't be married
after noon."

"Sir," said Zeb, with a white face; "it's a liberty, but will 'ee let me
shake your hand?"

"I'll be cursed if I do. But I'll wish you good luck and a hard heart,
and maybe ye'll thank me some day."

So Zeb, with a sob, turned and ran from him out of the fosse and towards
a gap in the hedge, where lay a short cut through the fields. In the
gap he turned and looked back. The stranger stood on the lip of the
fosse, and waved a hand to him to hurry.

[1] Camp.



CHAPTER X.