Page:Between Two Loves.djvu/313

308 "Was she looking well?"

"Uncommon well. Now, I'll tell thee some rare good news. Joyce and all t' childer have gone to America."

"Now then! Art ta sure?"

"Quite sure. Steve sent them twenty pounds, they hed it up to a hundred pounds in t' village, and Joyce sold t' furniture, and Sarah told me that Steve hed a comfortable home for them in New York."

"How did they go?"

"Why, in t' same vessel Steve sailed in, Sarah went to Liverpool with them, if she hedn't, I don't think they'd iver hev got there. She had iverything to do at t' last, but she was thet happy she ntver got tired, although Joyce would tire an angel out o' heaven with her whimwhams and flurries and worritin' ways."

"Well, this is good news, Ben! I'm glad it came to me from thy lips, old friend. And I'm right glad thou art so happy thysen. Now I'm going to see Sarah, and if t' carriage comes, don't let Uncle Shuttleworth wait for me. I'll happen to be a bit late."

"Ay, I think it's likely. Will ta stay here all night?"