第67章

UncleReubendidnotcomehometohisdinner；andhisgranddaughtersaidshehadstrictestordersnevertoexpecthim。Thereforewehadnonetodinewithus，excepttheforemanoftheshop，aworthyman，namedThomasCockram，fiftyyearsofageorso。HeseemedtometohavestrongintentionsofhisownaboutlittleRuth，andonthataccounttoregardmewithawhollyunduemalevolence。Andperhaps，inordertojustifyhim，Imayhavebeenmoreattentivetoherthanotherwiseneedhavebeen；atanyrate，RuthandIwerepleasant；andhetheveryopposite。

’MydearCousinRuth，’Isaid，onpurposetovexMasterCockram，becauseheeyedussoheavily，andsquintedtounluckily，’wehavelongbeenlookingforyouatourPlover’sBarrowsfarm。Yourememberhowyouusedtolovehuntingforeggsinthemorning，andhidingupinthetallatwithLizzie，formetoseekyouamongthehay，whenthesunwasdown。Ah，MasterCockram，thosearethethingsyoungpeoplefindtheirpleasurein，notinsellingayardofserge，andgivingtwopence-halfpennychange，andwriting“settled“atthebottom，withapencilthathasblackedtheirteeth。

Now，MasterCockram，yououghttocomeasfarasourgoodfarm，atonce，andeattwonew-laideggsforbreakfast，andbemadetolookquiteyoungagain。OurgoodAnniewouldcookforyou；andyoushouldhavethehotnewmilkandthepope’seyefromthemutton；andeveryfootofyouwouldbecomeayardinaboutafortnight。’Andhereupon，Ispreadmychest，toshowhimanexample。Ruthcouldnotkeephercountenance：

butIsawthatshethoughtitwrongofme；andwouldscoldme，ifeverIgaveherthechanceoftakingthoselittleliberties。However，hedeserveditall，accordingtomyyoungideas，forhisgreatimpertinenceinaimingatmycousin。

ButwhatIsaidwasfarlessgrievoustoamanofhonestmindthanlittleRuth’sownbehaviour。Icouldhardlyhavebelievedthatsothoroughlytrueagirl，andonesoproudandupright，couldhavegotridofanymansocleverlyasshegotridofMasterThomasCockram。Shegavehimnotevenaglassofwine，butcommendedtohisnotice，withasweetandthoughtfulgravity，someinvoicewhichmustbecorrected，beforeherdeargrandfathershouldreturn；andtoamendwhichthreegreatledgersmustbesearchedfromfirsttolast。ThomasCockramwinkedatme，withtheworstofhistwowrongeyes；asmuchastosay，’Iunderstandit；butIcannothelpmyself。Onlyyoulookout，ifever’——andbeforehehadfinishedwinking，thedoorwasshutbehindhim。ThenRuthsaidtomeinthesimplestmanner，’Youhaveriddenfartoday，CousinRidd；andhavefartoridetogethomeagain。WhatwilldearAuntRiddsay，ifwesendyouawaywithoutnourishment？

Allthekeysareinmykeeping，anddeargrandfatherhasthefinestwine，nottobematchedinthewestofEngland，asIhaveheardgoodjudgessay；thoughIknownotwinefromcider。DoyoulikethewineofOporto，orthewineofXeres？’

’Iknownotonefromtheother，faircousin，exceptbythecolour，’Ianswered：’butthesoundofOportoisnobler，andricher。SupposewetrywineofOporto。’

Thegoodlittlecreaturewentandfetchedablackbottleofanancientcast，coveredwithdustandcobwebs。TheseIwasanxioustoshakeaside；andindeedIthoughtthatthewinewouldbebetterforbeingrousedupalittle。Ruth，however，wouldnothearasinglewordtothatpurport；andseeingthatsheknewmoreaboutit，Ilefthertomanageit。Andtheresultwasveryfineindeed，towit，asparklingrosyliquor，dancingwithlittleflakesoflight，andscentedlikenewviolets。WiththisIwassopleasedandgay，andRuthsogladtoseemegay，thatwequiteforgothowthetimewenton；andthoughmyfaircousinwouldnotbepersuadedtotakeasecondglassherself，shekeptonfillingminesofastthatitwasneverempty，thoughIdidmybesttokeepitso。

’Whatisalittledroplikethistoamanofyoursizeandstrength，CousinRidd？’shesaid，withhercheeksjustbrushedwithrose，whichmadeherlookverybeautiful；’Ihaveheardyousaythatyourheadissothick——orrathersoclear，yououghttosay——thatnoliquorevermovesit。’

’Thatisrightenough，’Ianswered；’whatawitchyoumustbe，dearRuth，tohaverememberedthatnow!’

’Oh，IremembereverywordIhaveeverheardyousay，CousinRidd；becauseyourvoiceissodeep，youknow，andyoutalksolittle。Nowitisuselesstosay“no“。Thesebottlesholdalmostnothing。Deargrandfatherwillnotcomehome，Ifear，untillongaf