Y' see, his ain't to be depended on nowadays, owing to a
boot--"
"A boot, Jerry?" laughed Diana.
"At Maidstone Fair, Ann! Jessamy was preachin' Brotherly Love when a
large cove in a white 'at up an' kicked him in the watch, which is apt
to be a little unsettlin' to any timepiece. Anyhow, Jessamy's has
never gone right since."
"His watch again!" cried I. "Last time the trouble was a brick, I
remember."
"But Jerry, what happened to the 'cove' in the white hat?" enquired
Diana.
"Well, arter it was all over, Jessamy took him aside into a quiet
corner an' they prayed together."
"Jessamy was always a forceful evangelist!" she laughed.
"And there he is."
"Where?" questioned Diana.
"Listen and you'll hear him, Ann!" Sure enough from the boskages
adjacent came the ring and tap of a hammer to the accompaniment of a
rich, sweet voice unpraised in song.
Hereupon, setting two slim, white fingers to her mouth, Diana whistled
loud and shrilly, to the Tinker's no small delight. Ensued a
prodigious rustling and snapping of twigs and into the lane sprang the
slender, shapely figure of Jessamy himself, as bright of eye, as light
and quick of foot as ever.
I will not dilate upon this second meeting, but it was good to feel
the hearty grip of his fingers, to hear the glad welcome in his voice,
to see how gallantly he stooped to kiss Diana's hand, and how his
sun-tanned cheek flushed beneath the touch of her lips.
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