but--"

"Heave ahead, Shipmate!" whispered Bellew.

Obedient to his command Small Porges, with his burden upon his back, ran
forward, and stumbled into the room.

"It's all right, Auntie Anthea!" he cried, "I've got the fortune for
you,--I've found the money I prayed for,--here it is, oh!--here it is!"

The sack fell jingling to the floor, and, next moment, he had poured a
heap of shining gold and crumpled banknotes at Anthea's feet.

For a moment no one moved, then, with a strange hoarse cry, Adam had
flung himself down upon his knees, and caught up a great handful of the
gold; then while Miss Priscilla sobbed with her arms about Small Porges,
and Anthea stared down at the treasure, wide-eyed, and with her hands
pressed down upon her heart, Adam gave a sudden, great laugh, and
springing up, came running out through the window, never spying Bellew
in his haste, and shouting as he ran:

"Grimes!" he roared, "Oh! Grimes, come back an' be paid. Come
back--we've had our little joke wi' you,--now come back an' be paid!"

Then, at last, Anthea's stony calm was broken, her bosom heaved with
tempestuous sobs, and, next moment, she had thrown herself upon her
knees, and had clasped her arms about Small Porges and Aunt Priscilla,
mingling kisses with her tears. As for Bellew, he turned away, and,
treading a familiar path, found himself beneath the shadow of "King
Arthur." Therefore, he sat down, and lighting his pipe, stared up at the
glory of the full-orbed moon.

"Happiness," said he, speaking his thought aloud, "'Happiness shall come
riding astride the full moon!' Now--I wonder!"

CHAPTER XXVII

_In which is verified the adage of the cup and the lip_.

Now as he sat thus, plunged in thought, he heard the voice of one who
approached intoning a familiar chant, or refrain,--the voice was harsh,
albeit not unmusical, and the words of the chant were these:

"When I am dead, diddle diddle, as well may hap,
Bury me deep, diddle diddle, under the tap,
Under the tap, diddle diddle, I'll tell you--"

"Lord!" exclaimed the singer, breaking off suddenly, "be that you, Mr.
Belloo, sir?"

"Yea, in good sooth, Adam, the very same,--but you sing, Adam?"

"Ah!--I sing, Mr. Belloo, sir, an' if you ax me why, then I tell you
because I be 'appy-'earted an' full o' j-o-y, j'y, sir. The mortgage be
paid off at last, Mr. Belloo, sir,--Miss Anthea be out o' debt,--free,
sir,--an' all along o' Master Georgy, God bless him