SIXTEENAT that moment I saw Gaffer, tall and lean, trudging behind four plodding cattle. He came around the side of the tor, and at sight of us stopped, leaning forward from his hips to gaze.
“There ’ee be!” he called, in a pleased tone.
I dried my eyes and beckoned to him. I wanted to look into his face and hear his voice and be healed. He came walking briskly.
“How are you feeling, Gaffer?” I asked.
“Hale, thank ’ee. And I want to tell ’ee ’twas no lame bones that ’strain me from succoring ’ee at the cottage in the storm, along wi’ Dora’s man and Jarge. We had dressed to go afore the gale broke, and fixed a fire pot and lantherns, then Jarge dumb to the hayloft and see ’ee on the moors making in safe. Arter while ’en see the blaze of ’ee chimney through the rain, for eyes like a kest
