"That’s good to know, I’m sure; for common sense never was my strong point and never will be," he confessed. "And if I’ve promised more than I can perform, you must forgive me," she said. "I must guard myself against your disappointment, Bartley, for it may come to that." "You’ll do what you can," he answered, "for liking of me; and you’ll do the best you can; and if I lose, ’twill be no blame to you; and if I win, ’twill be such a feather in your cap as few of the cleverest women can boast." *CHAPTER VIII* *TRIUMPH OF BILLY SCREECH* On a day in early summer David Bowden met his father by appointment at Nosworthy Bridge in Meavy valley. It was not Sunday, but both wore their Sunday clothes. The fact would have led observers to suppose that a funeral or a wedding must be at hand, but it was not so. They had before them a serious and, they feared, a difficult duty. Neither knew that the other proposed to wear black; yet a sort of similar instinct led to the donning of the colour, and each felt glad, when he saw the other, that he had been of that mind. "’Twill be for you to speak, father," said David; "and where I can think of words to back you up, I shall put them in. If you and me together ban’t stronger than such a man as Screech, ’tis pity." "The law be weak, unfortunately," answered Elias, "else I’d never have gone near the man, but just left justice to take its course. But as it stands, so lawyer tells me, we can’t make Screech marry Dorcas if he won’t. The thing is to be as patient with the man as we know how, and coax him into it if possible." David nodded. "It’s a bad business, looked at which way you will. Rhoda’s took it more to heart than all of us. She won’t never speak to Dorcas or see her again." "We mustn’t talk that nonsense. Nature will out, and for my part, to you, David, though to none else, I’m sorry to God now I said ’nay.’ However, we’ll see if we can fetch him to reason. Here’s the house--a ragged, hang-dog look it hath." "And there’s the man," added David. Billy Screech was digging in a patch of garden beside his cottage, but at sight of the visitors, he stuck his spade into the earth, cleaned his boots on it, drew down his shirt-sleeves, donned his coat and came forward. "You’m a thought earlier than I expected," he said. "Give you a very good-morning, Mr. Bowden; and you, David." Elias took the hairy Screech’s hand; David nodded, but avoided a direct salute. "In your black, I see--a black business, no doubt," said Billy. "And if you’ll give me a matter of minutes, I’ll polish up a bit and put on mine. Perhaps you didn’t know as I’ve got some good broadcloth for my back; but I have."