Page:Moonfleet - John Meade Falkner.pdf/84

 our secret tight, and we'll keep yours, for 'he that refraineth his lips is wise.

I wondered how Master Ratsey could quote Scripture so pat, and yet cheat the revenue—though, in truth, 'twas thought little sin at Moonfleet to run a cargo—and perhaps he guessed what I was thinking, for he added,―

"Not that a Christian man has aught to be ashamed of in landing a cask of good liquor, for we read that when Israel came out of Egypt, the chosen people were bid trick their oppressors out of jewels of silver and jewels of gold; and among those cruel taskmasters some of the worst must certainly have been the tax-gatherers."

The first walk I took when I grew stronger and was able to get about was up to Aunt Jane's, notwithstanding she had never so much as been to ask after me all these days. She knew, indeed, where I was, for Ratsey had told her I lay at the Why Not, explaining that Elzevir had found me one night on the ground famished and half-dead, yet not saying where. But my aunt greeted me with hard words, which I need not repeat here; for perhaps she meant them not unkindly, but only to bring me back again to the right way. She did not let me cross the threshold, holding the door ajar in her hand, and saying she would have no tavern-loungers in her house, but that if I liked the Why Not so well, I could go back there again for her. I had been for begging her pardon for playing truant; but when I heard such scurvy words, felt the devil rise in my heart, and only laughed, though bitter tears were in my eyes.