he crooned, as he stumped forward to his
chair. "The cold nips me without 'em. See to my fingers!" He held
out his distorted hands, all blue at the tips, wrinkled and gnarled,
with huge, projecting knuckles.

"It's nigh ready," answered the girl, gazing at him with wonder in her
eyes. "Don't you know who I am, granduncle? I am Norah Brewster from
Witham."

"Rum is warm," mumbled the old man, rocking to and fro in his chair,
"and schnapps is warm, and there's 'eat in soup, but it's a dish o' tea
for me. What did you say your name was?"

"Norah Brewster."

"You can speak out, lass. Seems to me folk's voices isn't as loud as
they used."

"I'm Norah Brewster, uncle. I'm your grandniece come down from Essex
way to live with you."

"You'll be brother Jarge's girl! Lor, to think o' little Jarge having
a girl!" He chuckled hoarsely to himself, and the long, stringy sinews
of his throat jerked and quivered.

"I am the daughter of your brother George's son," said she, as she
turned the bacon.

"Lor, but little Jarge was a rare un!" he continued. "Eh, by Jimini,
there was no chousing Jarge. He's got a bull pup o' mine that I gave
him when I took the bounty. You've heard him speak of it, likely?"

"Why, grandpa George has been dead this twenty year," said she, pouring
out the tea.

"Well, it was a bootiful pup--aye, a well-bred un, by Jimini! I'm cold
for lack o' my rations. Rum is good, and so is schnapps, but I'd as
lief have tea as either."

He breathed heavily while he devoured his food. "It's a middlin'
goodish way you've come," said he at last. "Likely the stage left
yesternight."

"The what, uncle?"

"The coach that brought you."

"Nay, I came by the mornin' train."

"Lor, now, think o' that! You ain't afeard o' those newfangled things!
By Jimini, to think of you comin' by railroad like that! What's the
world a-comin' to!"

There was silence for some minutes while Norah sat stirring her tea and
glancing sideways at the bluish lips and champing jaws of her companion.

"You must have seen a deal o' life, uncle," said she. "It must seem a
long, long time to you!"

"Not so very long neither. I'm ninety, come Candlemas; but it don't
seem long since I took the bounty. And that battle, it might have been
yesterday. Eh, but I get a power o' good from my rations!" He did
indeed look less worn and colourless than when she first saw him. His
face was flushed and his back more erect.