Danny looked puzzled. Mona smiled in his troubled face. "Do, that's a good Danny," she said, taking his big rough hand. Danny drew it away. "Yes," he said, looking vacantly over the sea. Then they arranged that the oil-skins and cap with a pair of sea-boots were to be left in the barn, and that not a word was to be said to a living soul about them. "Good-by," said Mona, holding out her hand. It was not at first that Danny realized what he ought to do when a lady offered her hand. Having taken it, he did not quite know what it was right to do next. So he held it a moment and lifted his eyes to hers. "Good-by, Danny," she said, and there was a tremor in her voice. She had gone--Danny never knew how. He walked a little farther with Ruby, who pranced and sang. On the way home he stopped and repeated to himself in a whisper, "Mona, Mona, Mona." He looked at his hand. It was coarse and horny. He lifted it to his lips and kissed it. Then he began to run. Suddenly he stopped, and muttered, "But what for did she want the oil-skins?" CHAPTER IX THE HERRING MEAILLEY There was high sport at the "Jolly Herrings" that night. Christian was there, more than half ashamed of his surroundings, but too amiably irresolute, as usual, to imperil by absence from this annual gathering his old reputation for good-fellowship. "Aw, the gentleman he is, isn't he? And him straight from Oxford College, too." "What's that they're sayin'? Oxford College? Och, no; not that at all." "But the fine English tongue at him, anyway. It's just a pleasure to hear him spake. Smooth as oil, and sweet astonishin'. Bill Kisseck--I say, Bill, there--why didn't you put up the young masther for the chair?" "Aw, lave me alone," answered Kisseck, with a contemptuous toss of the head. "Him an' me's same as brothers." "Bill's proud uncommon of the masther, and middlin' jealous too. Aw, well! who's wonderin' at it?" "It's a bit free them chaps are making," whispered Kisseck to Christian. Then rising to his feet with gravity, "Gentlemen," he said, "what d'ye say to Misther Christian Mylrea Balladhoo for the elber-chair yander?" "Hooraa! Hooraa!" Kisseck resumed his seat with a lofty glance of patronage at the men about him, which said, as plainly as words themselves, "I tould ye to lave it all to me." "Proud, d'ye say? Look at him," whispered Davy Cain.