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would starve in these parts； we have got nothing worth thieving here。〃
Jicksstill watching the proceedings with an interest which allowed no
detail to escape unnoticedassumed the responsibility of starting the
men on their journey。 The odd child waved her chubby hand imperiously to
her friend the driver； and cried in her loudest voice； 〃Away！〃 The driver
touched his hat with comic respect。 〃All right； misstime's money； aint
it？〃 He cracked his whip； and the cart rolled off noiselessly over the
thick close turf of the South Downs。
It was time for me to go back to the rectory； and to restore the
wandering Jicks； for the time being； to the protection of home。 I
returned to Oscar； to say good…bye。
〃I wish I was going back with you；〃 he said。
〃You will be as free as I am to come and to go at the rectory；〃 I
answered； 〃when they know what has passed this morning between you and
me。 In your own interests； I am determined to tell them who you are。 You
have nothing to fear； and everything to gain； by my speaking out。 Clear
your mind of fancies and suspicions that are unworthy of you。 By
to…morrow we shall be good neighbors； by the end of the week we shall be
good friends。 For the present； as we say in France； _au revoir！_〃
I turned to take Jicks by the hand。 While I had been speaking to Oscar
the child had slipped away from me。 Not a sign of her was to be seen。
Before we could stir a step to search for our lost Gipsy； her voice
reached our ears； raised shrill and angry in the regions behind us； at
the side of the house。
〃Go away！〃 we heard the child cry out impatiently。 〃Ugly men； go away！〃
We turned the corner； and discovered two shabby strangers； resting
themselves against the side wall of the house。 Their cadaverous faces；
their brutish expressions； and their frowzy clothes； proclaimed them； to
my eye； as belonging to the vilest blackguard type that the civilized
earth has yet producedthe blackguard of London growth。 There they
lounged； with their hands in their pockets and their backs against the
wall； as if they were airing themselves on the outer side of a
public…houseand there stood Jicks； with her legs planted wide apart on
the turf； asserting the rights of property （even at that early age！） and
ordering the rascals off。
〃What are you doing there？〃 asked Oscar sharply。
One of the men appeared to be on the point of making an insolent answer。
The otherthe younger and the viler…looking villain of the twochecked
him； and spoke first。
〃We've had a longish walk； sir；〃 said the fellow； with an impudent
assumption of humility； 〃and we've took the liberty of resting our backs
against your wall； and feasting our eyes on the beauty of your young lady
here。〃
He pointed to the child。 Jicks shook her fist at him； and ordered him off
more fiercely than ever。
〃There's an inn in the village；〃 said Oscar。 〃Rest there； if you
pleasemy house is not an inn。〃
The elder man made a second effort to speak； beginning with an oath。 The
younger checked him again。
〃Shut up； Jim！〃 said the superior blackguard of the two。 〃The gentleman
recommends the tap at the inn。 Come and drink the gentleman's health。〃 He
turned to the child； and took off his hat to her with a low bow。 〃Wish
you good morning； Miss！ You're just the style； you are； that I admire。
Please don't engage yourself to be married till I come back。〃
His savage companion was so tickled by this delicate pleasantry that he
burst suddenly into a roar of laughter。 Arm in arm； the two ruffians
walked off together in the direction of the village。 Our funny little
Jicks became a tragic and terrible Jicks； all on a sudden。 The child
resented the insolence of the two men as if she really understood it。 I
never saw so young a creature in such a furious passion before。 She
picked up a stone； and threw it at them before I could stop her。 She
screamed； and stamped her tiny feet alternately on the ground； till she
was purple in the face。 She threw herself down； and rolled in fury on the
grass。 Nothing pacified her but a rash promise of Oscar's （which he was
destined to hear of for many a long day afterwards） to send for the
police； and to have the two men soundly beaten for daring to laugh at
Jicks。 She got up from the ground； and dried her eyes with her knuckles；
and fixed a warning look on Oscar。 〃Mind！〃 said this curious child； with
her bosom still heaving under the dirty pinafore； 〃the men are to be
beaten。 And Jicks is to see it。〃
I said nothing to Oscar； at the time； but I felt some secret uneasiness
on the way homean uneasiness inspired by the appearance of the two men
in the neighborhood of Browndown。
It was impossible to say how long they might have been lurking about the
outside of the house； before the child discovered them。 They might have
heard； through the open window； what Oscar had said to me on the subject
of his plates of precious metal； and they might have seen the heavy
packing…case placed in the cart。 I felt no apprehension about the safe
arrival of the case at Brighton； the three men in the cart were men
enough to take good care of it。 My fears were for the future。 Oscar was
living； entirely by himself； in a lonely house； more than half a mile
distant from the village。 His fancy for chasing in the precious metals
might have its dangers； as well as its attractions； if it became known
beyond the pastoral limits of Dimchurch。 Advancing from one suspicion to
another； I asked myself if the two men had roamed by mere accident into
our remote part of the worldor whether they had deliberately found
their way to Browndown with a purpose in view。 Having this doubt in my
mind； and happening to encounter the old nurse； Zillah； in the garden as
I entered the rectory gates with my little charge； I put the question to
her plainly； 〃Do you see many strangers at Dimchurch？〃
〃Strangers？〃 repeated the old woman。 〃Excepting yourself； ma'am； we see
no strangers here； from one year's end to another。〃
I determined to say a warning word to Oscar before his precious metals
were sent back to Browndown。
CHAPTER THE ELEVENTH
Blind Love
LUCILLA was at the piano when I entered the sitting…room。
〃I wanted you of all things；〃 she said。 〃I have sent all over the house
in search of you。 Where have you been？〃
I told her。
She sprang to her feet with a cry of delight。
〃You have persuaded him to trust youyou have discovered everything。 You
only said 'I have been at Browndown'and I heard it in your voice。 Out
with it！ out with it！〃
She never movedshe seemed hardly to breathewhile I was telling her
all that had passed at the interview between Oscar and me。 As soon as I
had done； she got up in a violent hurryflushed and eagerand made
straight for her bedroom door。
〃What are you going to do？〃 I asked。
〃I want my hat and my stick；〃 she answered。
〃You are going out？〃
〃Yes。〃
〃Where？〃
〃Can you ask the question？ To Browndown of course！〃
I begged her to wait a moment； and hear a word or two that I had to say。
It is； I suppose； almost needless to add that my object in speaking to
her was to protest against the glaring impropriety of her paying a second
visit； in