“And when—­when shall ye be ready to—­leave, to—­vacate Dapplemere, Miss Anthea?” Grimes went on.  “Not as I mean to ’urry you, mind,—­only I should like you to—­name a day.”

Now, as Bellew watched, he saw Anthea’s lips move, but no sound came.  Miss Priscilla saw also, and catching the nerveless hand, drew it to her bosom, and wept over it.

“Come! come!” expostulated Grimes, jingling the money in his pockets.  “Come, come, Miss Anthea, mam!—­all as I’m axing you is—­when?  All as I want you to do is—­”

But here Adam, who had been screwing and wringing at his hat, now stepped forward and, tapping Grimes upon the shoulder, pointed to the door: 

“Mister Grimes,” said he, “Miss Anthea’s told ye all as you come here to find out,—­she’s told ye as she—­can’t pay, so now,—­s’pose you—­go.”

“But all I want to know is when she’ll be ready to move, and I ain’t a going till I do,—­so you get out o’ my way!”

“S’pose you go!” repeated Adam.

“Get out o’ my way,—­d’ye hear?”

“Because,” Adam went on, “if ye don’t go, Mister Grimes, the ‘Old Adam’ be arising inside o’ me to that degree as I shall be forced to ketch you by the collar o’ your jacket, and—­heave you out, Mr. Grimes, sir,—­so s’pose you go.”

Hereupon Mr. Grimes rose, put on his hat, and muttering to himself, stamped indignantly from the room, and Adam, shutting the door upon him, turned to Miss Anthea, who stood white-lipped and dry-eyed, while gentle little Miss Priscilla fondled her listless hand.

“Don’t,—­don’t look that way, Miss Anthea,” said Adam.  “I’d rayther see you cry, than look so.  It be ’ard to ’ave to let the old place go, but—­”

“Heave ahead, Shipmate!” whispered Bellew.

Obedient to his command Small Porges, with his burden upon his back, ran forward, and stumbled into the room.

“It’s all right, Auntie Anthea!” he cried, “I’ve got the fortune for you,—­I’ve found the money I prayed for,—­here it is, oh!—­here it is!”

The sack fell jingling to the floor, and, next moment, he had poured a heap of shining gold and crumpled banknotes at Anthea’s feet.

For a moment no one moved, then, with a strange hoarse cry, Adam had flung himself down upon his knees, and caught up a great handful of the gold; then while Miss Priscilla sobbed with her arms about Small Porges, and Anthea stared down at the treasure, wide-eyed, and with her hands pressed down upon her heart, Adam gave a sudden, great laugh, and springing up, came running out through the window, never spying Bellew in his haste, and shouting as he ran: 

“Grimes!” he roared, “Oh!  Grimes, come back an’ be paid.  Come back—­we’ve had our little joke wi’ you,—­now come back an’ be paid!”

Then, at last, Anthea’s stony calm was broken, her bosom heaved with tempestuous sobs, and, next moment, she had thrown herself upon her knees, and had clasped her arms about Small Porges and Aunt Priscilla, mingling kisses with her tears.  As for Bellew, he turned away, and, treading a familiar path, found himself beneath the shadow of “King Arthur.”  Therefore, he sat down, and lighting his pipe, stared up at the glory of the full-orbed moon.