In truth, I believe, a kind
of superstitious terror restricted him. He trusted me, yet was
afraid of overt signs of trust. You may put it that during this
while he was testing, watching me. I can only answer that I had no
suspicion of being watched, and that in discussing the boat's
fittings with me--her tanks, wells, and general storage capacity--he
took it for granted that I followed and understood her purpose.
If indeed he was testing me, in my innocence I took the best way to
reassure him; for I honestly looked upon the whole business as
moonshine, and made no doubt that he was cracked as a fiddle.
Christmas came, and the holidays with it. As Miss Plinlimmon sang--
"Welcome, Christmas! Welcome, Yule!
It brings the schoolboy home from school.
[N.B.--Vulgarly pronounced 'schule' in the West of England.]
Puddings and mistletoe and holly,
With other contrivances for banishing melancholy:
Boar's head, for instance--of which I have never partaken,
But the name has associations denied to ordinary bacon."
Dear soul, she had been waiting at the door--so Sally, the cook,
informed me--for about an hour, listening for the coach, and greeted
me with a tremulous joy between laughter and tears.
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