"
"Your daughter? My grand-daughter, then. Come hither, maiden, and be my
grand-daughter."
Ayacanora came obedient, and knelt down, because she had seen Amyas
kneel.
"God forbid, child! kneel not to me. Come home, and let me know whether
I am sane or mazed, alive or dead."
And drawing her hood over her face, she turned to go back, holding Amyas
tight by one hand, and Ayacanora by the other.
The crowd let them depart some twenty yards in respectful silence, and
then burst into a cheer which made the old town ring.
Mrs. Leigh stopped suddenly.
"I had forgotten, Amyas. You must not let me stand in the way of your
duty. Where are your men?"
"Kissed to death by this time; all of them, that is, who are left."
"Left?"
"We went out a hundred, mother, and we came home forty-four--if we are
at home. Is it a dream, mother? Is this you? and this old Bridgeland
Street again? As I live, there stands Evans the smith, at his door,
tankard in hand, as he did when I was a boy!"
The brawny smith came across the street to them; but stopped when he saw
Amyas, but no Frank.
"Better one than neither, madam!" said he, trying a rough comfort. Amyas
shook his hand as he passed him; but Mrs. Leigh neither heard nor saw
him nor any one.
"Mother," said Amyas, when they were now past the causeway, "we are rich
for life.
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