"Iss; but I ca'ant kip comp'ny weth 'ee like other maids. An' ted'n vitty fur we to be mittin' every week like this 'ere." "Well, Tryphena, my buty, you do knaw I do love 'ee deerly. An' you be a clain off cook, too. I niver taasted sich a vowl pie in my life, ther now. An' yer zay 't shell be a pigin pie next week." "Iss, Ikey; but 'twud be purty to 'ave a 'ome of our oan." "Mawther wa'ant 'eer of et it, nor Cap'n Jack nuther. 'Nother yer or two, Tryphena, and then I'll go to the passen. Ther, I mus' be goin'." Another sounding kiss, and Ikey crept away very quietly, while Tryphena began to put away the supper things. In a minute my mind was made up. I had heard enough to settle me on my plan of action. I thought I saw the means whereby I could see Naomi. I waited until Tryphena had cleared away the remains of Ikey's repast, and was evidently preparing to go to her room, and then I gave the kitchen door a slight knock, and, imitating Ikey's voice as well as I could, I said, "Tryphena, my buty, laive me in a minait." She came and opened the door quickly. "'Ave 'ee forgot summin', Ikey, deear?" she said; and then before she recognised me I slipped in. The dogs rose up with a low, suppressed growl, as though they were in doubt what to do; but Tryphena, who was as anxious as I that the household might not be disturbed, quieted them. "Maaster Jasper Pennington!" she gasped as she looked into my face. "That's right, Tryphena," I said. "Sit down, I want to talk with you, and I want you to do something for me." "No, I mustn't, I daren't. They do oal hate 'ee 'ere, Maaster Jasper. Ef they wos to knaw you was 'ere, I dunnaw wot wud 'appen." For a moment a great bitterness came into my heart, for I remembered that this was the first time I had ever entered the home of my fathers. And it galled me beyond measure that I should have to enter at midnight at the kitchen door like a servant who came courting the servant maids. I quickly realised my position, however, and acted accordingly. "Yes, you must do what I ask you, Tryphena," I said. "I tell 'ee I ca'ant." "Then Ikey Trethewy will be in the hands of the Preventive men by to-morrow," I replied, "and Richard Tresidder will know that a man has come to his house for years at midnight on the sly." I did not want to frighten the poor woman, but it had to be done. I saw, too, that I had said sufficient to make Tryphena afraid to thwart me. "What do 'ee want me to do?" she asked. "I suppose no one can hear us?" I said. "No, oal the family, 'ciptin' Miss Naomi, do slaip in another paart ov the 'ouse." I listened intently, but could hear no sound; evidently all the family was asleep. "You remember about two months ago that Ikey brought a letter to Miss Naomi Penryn?" I said. "Iss." "Well, I wrote that letter." "I knaw; Ikey tould me." "Well, I want to see Miss Naomi." "When?" "To-night. I want you to go to her room now, and tell her that I want to see her." CHAPTER XI