Page:Delight - de la Roche - 1926.djvu/241

 I'll get a pair of knitting needles and knit your jersey all up again, as good as new."

"What a darling you are," said Jimmy.

At last they were before the blacksmith's door. The forge was open. A sharp, musical tapping came from within and a ruddy glow lighted the arms and leather apron of the smith. In his cottage next door the windows were alight and they could see a supper table set with a cold joint and a loaf and a huge pot of tea.

"The kindest people in the world," said Jimmy. "They'll do everything for you, sweetheart. . . . Now Tom sees us. He's taking off his apron."

Delight's deep gay eyes were shining. She was so happy, and so very, very hungry. If only Gran could see her! Lucky girl that she was. She knew God saw her. . . . He had saved Gran's tea-set and now He had saved her. Darling Gran! Darling Jimmy! Dear, dear God!

While Delight and Jimmy were being reunited, Macy, the constable, and his assistant were hastening in a jog trot around the end of the lagoon, with the object of heading off Mrs. Jessop. Macy was burning to arrest the woman who had defied him, and thoroughly to frighten the other women who had been led by her into such an outrage. But, while the two men were panting on their way, the women, yearning towards the lads in the park, and being tired already of this antagonism of sex, were crossing the lagoon in relays by the little green boat.

Mrs. Jessop was the last to leave, sitting in the stern with Nannie and Gertie to row her. They were midway