' I dedn' knaw faither was in the doorway when I said
it, 'cause he'd give out you was never to be named no more. But mother seed
en an' sez to me, 'Shut your mouth.' An', not knawin' faither was be'ind
me, I ups agin an' sez, 'Why caan't I, as be her awn brother, see Joan
anyway an' hear tell what 'tis she've done? I lay as it ban't no mighty
harm neither, 'cause Joan's true Tregenza!'"
"Good Lard! An' faither heard 'e?"
"Iss, an' next minute I knawed it. He blazed an' roared, an' comed over an'
bummed my head 'pon the earhole--a buster as might 'a' killed some lads. My
ivers! I seed stars 'nough to fill a new sky, Joan, an' I went down tail
over nose. I doubt theer's nobody in Newlyn what can hit like faither. But
I got up agin an' sot mighty still, an' faither sez, 'She as was here ban't
no Tregenza, nor my darter, nor nothin' to none under my hellings
[Footnote: _Hellings_--Roof.] no more--never more, mark that.' Then
mother thrawed her apern over her faace an' hollered, 'cause I'd got such a
welt, an' faither walked out in the garden. I was for axin' mother then,
but reckoned not for fear as he might be listenin' agin. But I knawed you
was up Drift, 'cause I heard mother say that much; an' now I've sot eyes on
you agin; an' I knaw you'll tell me what's wrong wi' you; an' if I can do
anything for 'e I will, sink or swim."
"Faither's a cruel beast, an' he'll come to a bad end, Tom, 'spite of they
Gosp'lers.
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