Page:Joan, the curate.djvu/86

80 "Maybe," she answered, as if indifferently, "there be plenty o' Baxes in these parts; they're in every village. I know not whether I ever heard yonder fellow called by any other name than 'Ben the Blast.'"

"He's a fisherman, I suppose, by his dress?" pursued Tregenna.

She gave him a straight look, turning her head stolidly towards him to do so.

"He's mate of a merchantman, I think," said she. "We don't see much of him up here, and we shouldn't mind if we saw less. He's a rough fellow, and free with his fists when he's in liquor."

"It seems you know how to manage him, however," said Tregenna.

Ann only smiled. And Tregenna, who saw that she meant to let him know no more, allowed the subject to drop.

They had by this time jogged some distance out of the village, and were descending a slope towards the river.

"We shall have to cross the water by the ford," said she. "You're not afraid, sir, to do it in the dark?"

"Not with you," answered Tregenna,