I doan't blame ee nohow, and thou stoodst
up well agin me. Oi doan't bear no malice vor a fair foight, not
loikely. Thy feyther has been roight good to oi, and the things he
sends oi up has done oi a power o' good. Oi hoap as how they will
let oi eat afore long; oi feels as if oi could hearty, but the
doctor he woin't let oi."
"I hope in a few days he will let you," Ned said, "and then I am
sure father will send you up some nice things. I have brought you
up some of my books for you to look at the pictures."
The boy looked pleased.
"Oi shall like that," Bill said; "but oi shan't know what they be
about."
"But I will come up every Saturday if you will let me, and tell
you the stories all about them."
"Willee now? That will be main koinde o' ye."
"I don't think you are strong enough to listen today," Ned said,
seeing how feebly the boy spoke; "but I hope by next Saturday you
will be much stronger. And now I will say goodby, for the doctor
said that I must not talk too long."
So saying Ned left the cottage and made his way back to Marsden in
better spirits than he had been for the last three weeks.
From that time Ned went up regularly for some weeks every Saturday
to see Bill Swinton, to the great disgust of his schoolfellows, who
could not imagine why he refused to join in their walks or games
on those days; but he was well repaid by the pleasure which his
visits afforded.
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