"I do know you. What be you come for? Is Denas--where be my child? Oh, man, why don't you say the words, whatever they be?"
"I am sorry if I frightened you. I thought you might like to know that Denas was well and happy."
Then Joan went back to her nets and sat down without a word.
"I was in St. Penfer on business, and I thought you would like to know--might like to know--you see, I was here on business--"
He was growing every moment more uncomfortable and embarrassed, for Joan bent busily over her work and her back was to him.
"You see, I was here on business. I wanted to see my sister. I thought you would like to know about Denas."
She turned suddenly on him and asked: "Where be my child?"
"You be a coward. You be a tenfold coward. Why didn' you bring your wife home with you? Did Denas send me no letter--no word for myself--for my heart only? Speak then; I want my letter."
"I left in a hurry. She had no time to write."
"Aw, then, why did you come here without a word of comfort? You be cruel as well as cowardly. No word! No letter! No time! There then! take yourself away from my door. 'Twas a wisht cruel thought brought you here. Aw, then, a thought out of your own heart. You be a bad man! dreadful! dreadful!"
"Come, my good woman, I wish to be kind."
"Good woman! Sure enough! but I have my husband's name, thank God, and there then! when you speak to me I be called by it--Joan Penelles. And Joan Penelles do wish you would turn your back on this house; she do that, for you do have a sight of ghastly mean old ways--more than either big or little devil means a young man to have. There then! Go afore John Penelles do find you here. For 'twill be a bad hour for you if he do--and so it will!"
"I did not expect such a reception, Mrs. Penelles. I have dealt honourably with your daughter."
"You have made my daughter to sin. Aw, then, I will not talk about my daughter with you. No indeed!"
"Denas do know her mother's heart and her father's heart, and when she do find it in her own heart to leave that sinful place--the the-a-tre--and dress herself like a decent wife and a good woman, and sing for God and not for the devil, and sing for love and not for money, aw, then, who will love her as quick and as warm as I will? But if you do want a message, tell her she have broken her good father's life in two; and that I do blame myself I ever gave her suck!"
