‘Until, as the common proverb goes, you know which way the cat will jump. Oh, John Ridd! Oh, John Ridd!’

‘Nothing of the sort,’ said I: ‘what a hurry you are in! I am for the King of course.’

‘But not enough to fight for him. Only enough to vote, I suppose, or drink his health, or shout for him.’

‘I can’t make you out to-day, Cousin Ruth; you are nearly as bad as Lizzie. You do not say any bitter things, but you seem to mean them.’

‘No, cousin, think not so of me. It is far more likely that I say them, without meaning them.’

‘Anyhow, it is not like you. And I know not what I can have done in any way, to vex you.’

‘Dear me, nothing, Cousin Ridd; you never do anything to vex me.’

‘Then I hope I shall do something now, Ruth, when I say good-bye. God knows if we ever shall meet again, Ruth: but I hope we may.’

‘To be sure we shall, ‘ she answered in her brightest manner. ‘Try not to look wretched, John: you are as happy as a Maypole.’

‘And you as a rose in May,’ I said; ‘and pretty nearly as pretty. Give my love to Uncle Ben; and I trust him to keep on the winning side.’

‘Of that you need have no misgivings. Never yet has he failed of it. Now, Cousin Ridd, why go you not? You hurried me so at breakfast time?’

‘My only reason for waiting, Ruth, is that you have not kissed me, as you are almost bound to do, for the last time perhaps of seeing me.’

‘Oh, if that is all, just fetch the stool; and I will do my best, cousin.’

‘I pray you be not so vexatious; you always used to do it nicely, without any stool, Ruth.’

‘Ah, but you are grown since then, and become a famous man, John Ridd, and a member of the nobility. Go your way, and win your spurs. I want no lip-service.’

Being at the end of my wits, I did even as she ordered me. At least I had no spurs to win, because there were big ones on my boots, paid for in the Easter bill, and made by a famous saddler, so as never to clog with marsh-weed, but prick as hard as any horse, in reason, could desire. And Kickums never wanted spurs; but always went tail-foremost, if anybody offered them for his consideration.