Page:Her Benny - Silas K Hocking (Warne, 1890).djvu/62

38 found himself in a small court containing about half a dozen houses. Before one of the doors he paused for a moment, then raised his sticky and gave a sharp rat-tat-tat. The door was instantly opened by a woman who had evidently reached her threescore years and ten. Yet she appeared hale and strong for her age^ and though poorly, was yet tidily attired.

"Well, ye are a stranger/' was her greeting. "I'm verra glad to see ye, though."

"An' I'm glad to see you, Betty."

"Well, come tha in. What's i' tha wind?" "Nowt much, Betty; but what thar is consarns you as much as me."

"Well, out wi' it, Joe," said Betty, as soon as Joe had seated himself. "No trouble, I 'ope?"

"No, not that I knows on; but could 'e make room 'ere for a couple of lodgers—little 'uns, mind you—children on'y 'bout so high?" holding out his hand.

" Well, what an idear, to be sure ! What are ye a-dreamin' on?"

"Your old man," said Joe solemnly, "was my mate for mony a year, an' a good man he wur; an' if from that fur-off country he can see what's doin' 'ere, he'd be mightily pleased for 'e to do, Betty, what I'm a-axin' o' yer."

"But I dunno that I quite understand," said Betty; "explain your meanin' a bit more."

So Joe, in a solemn voice, told the story of little Nell and her brother Benny. "It mebbe, Betty," he said, "they're