“They’ve got to spare me for to-day,” he said.

“Ah!  And to-morrow?”

“To-morrow too, Juliet.  I’m giving up my work at Little Shale.”

“But you can’t give it up at a moment’s notice,” she said.

“The squire is managing it.  They can close the school for a week anyway.  Then he can find a substitute.”

Juliet pondered this.  Then, “Let’s go back till the end of the term,
Dicky!” she said.

He looked at her.  “You want to, my Lady Joanna?”

She shook her head at him.  “You’re not to call me that.  Yes, I’d like to go back and finish there, but only as your wife—­nothing else.”

“My lady wife!” he said, patting her cheek.

She leaned her head against his shoulder.  “Yes, and there are the miners to settle.  Do you think they’ll ever be friends with me, Dick?”

“Of course they will,” he said.  “By the way, Juliet, I’ve a piece of news for you.  You know what Yardley came for?”

“No, I don’t,” she said, looking momentarily startled.

His hand reassured her.  “No, not for you, darling.  He didn’t expect to find you.  No, he came because he had been told—­by Jack, if you want to know—­that I was doing the work of an agitator among the men.”

“Dick!” she said, with quick indignation.  “How dared he?”

His touch restrained her.  “It doesn’t matter.  He came to see for himself, and he knows better now.  He told me after the meeting that I could take over his share of the concern if I liked.  And I took him at his word then and there.  I’ve got some money put by, and the squire can put up the rest.  Do you think your brother will mind?”

“Muff!” she said.  “Oh no!  He never minds anything.”

“I’ll buy him out too then some day, and we’ll make that mine a going concern, Juliet.  I’ll teach those men to use their brains instead of being led by these infernal revolutionists.  They shall learn that those who fight for themselves alone never get there.  I’ll teach ’em the rules of the game.  They shall learn to be sportsmen.”

Juliet’s eyes were shining.  “Bravo, Dick!” she said softly.

He met her look.  “You’ll have to help me, sweetheart,” he said.

She gave him her hands.  “I will help you in all that you do, Dick,” she said.

It was at this point that Columbus, who had been sitting a little apart with his back turned, got up, shook himself vigorously as if to give warning of his approach, and went to Juliet.

He set his paws against her with a loud pathetic yawn.

She bent over him.  “Oh, poor Columbus!  He’s so bored!  Do you want to go home, my Christopher?”

“Poor chap!” said Dick.  “It is rather hard to be dragged away on someone else’s honeymoon whether you want to or not.  Had enough of it, eh?  Think it’s high time we took the missis home?”

Columbus snuffled into his hand, and wagged himself from the tail upwards.