"Howd thy tongue, lass," said Jock, in a deep growl, and his strong will mastered hers. "Hearken to me, Polly. I beg thy pardon, lass, and I can read it in thy pretty eyes that all I said was a lie. I beg thy pardon, lass." "How could you--how dare you?" sobbed Polly. "Tom, Tom! come here--come here!" "Hush! he can't hear thee, lass," growled Jock. "I've seen so much that I thought thou wast playing a bad game against Tom; but I was wrong, my little lass, and I say forgive me." "Let me go and tell Tom all now," she sobbed. "I shan't be happy till I do." "Dost want to mak' thyself happy," growled Jock, sinking into his old Lincolnshire brogue, after losing much by absence in other counties--"happy, half breaking. Tom's heart, and getting murder done? If thou dost--go!" Polly bounded to the door to seek her husbands help, and tell him all, Jock watching her the while; but as she reached the door her courage failed, and she turned away with a piteous wail. "Oh, God help me!" she cried; "what shall I do?" "Come and sit down, lass, and dry thy eyes," said Jock, kindly. "Say thou forgives me. I'm very sorry, lass. I'm a down bad un, but I like owd Tom. He's a good 'un, is Tom." "The best, the truest of men." "And I'm glad he's got a good little true wife," growled Jock. "There, it's all right, ain't it, Polly?" he said, taking her little hand in his and patting it. "Say thou forgives me." "But--but you don't believe me," sobbed Polly. "But I do," he said, kissing her little hand in a quiet, reverential way that ill accorded with his looks. "Say thou forgives me, lass." "I do forgive you, Jock," she said, wiping her eyes. "Now let's call dear Tom in and tell him all." "Nay," said Jock, "he mustn't be told. He's troubled enough as it is. I'll mak' it reight." "No, no, Jock," cried Polly, with her checks turning like ashes. "What, are you afraid I shall drownd him?" he said, sharply. "Yes! Oh, it is so horrible!" "Nay, I wean't drownd him if he'll keep away," said Jock, fiercely, "but I'll hev a word wi' him when he least expects it." "I--I thought," faltered Polly, "that when he was married he would keep away." "Nay, not he," growled Jock; "but I heven't done wi' him and his yet." "But, Jock!" "Get me some bread and cheese, lass," he growled, and she rose in a timid way, and gazing at him fearfully, spread a cloth, and placed the food before him. "Now go and bathe thy pretty eyes," he said, as he sat down; "but stay a moment, lass." He took both her hands in his, and drew her to him, and kissed her forehead. "I beg thy pardon, Polly," he said once again; "and now go, and I promise that he shall never trouble thee again." "But, Jock!" "Howd thy tongue, lass. I wean't drown him, but if I don't scar him from this lane my name's not Jock." Polly left the kitchen, and the great fellow sat there eating heartily for a time, and then Polly came back.