'She's took bad!' he shouted. 'Uncle Reuben!--Uncle Reuben!--coom down an see for yorsel. If yo let her in, yo can keep me out as long as yo like!'
Hannah looked at him, and at the figure huddled against the stable-door--looked deliberately, and then, as deliberately, pulled the blind down lower than before, and not a sign of Reuben anywhere.
A crimson flame sprang to David's cheek. He rushed at the door, and while with one hand he banged away at the old knocker, he thumped with the other, kicking lustily the while at the panels, till Louie, almost forgetting her pains in the fierce excitement of the moment, thought he would kick them in. In the intervals of his blows, David could hear voices inside in angry debate.
'Uncle Reuben!' he shouted, stopping the noise for a moment, 'Uncle Reuben, Louie's turned sick! She's clemmed wi t' cold. If yo doan't open th' door, I'll go across to Wigson's, and tell 'em as Louie's parishin, an yo're bein th' death on her.'
The bolt shot back, and there stood Reuben, his red hair sticking up wildly from his head, his frame shaking with unusual excitement.
'What are yo makin that roompus for, Davy?' began Reuben, with would-be severity. 'Ha done wi yo, or I'll have to tak a stick to yo.'
But the boy stood akimbo on the steps, and the old farmer shrank before him, as David's black eye travelled past him to a gaunt figure on the stairs.
'Yo'll tak noa stick to me, Uncle Reuben. I'll not put up wi it, and yo know it. I'm goin to bring Louie in. We've bin on t' moor by t' Pool lookin for th' owd witch, an we both on us fell asleep, an Louie's took the rheumatics.--Soa theer.--Stan out o' t' way.'
And running back to Louie, who cried out as he lifted her up, he half carried, half dragged her in.
'Why, she's like death,' cried Reuben. 'Hannah! summat hot--at woonst.'
But Hannah did not move. She stood at the foot of the stairs, barring the way, the chill morning light falling on her threatening attitude, her grey dishevelled hair and all the squalid disarray of her dress.
'Them as doos like beggar's brats,' she said grimly, 'may fare like 'em. _I_'ll do nowt for 'em.'
The lad came up to her, his look all daring and resolution--his sister on his arm. But as he met the woman's expression, his lips trembled, he suddenly broke down.