The old lady took the crimson rose and her fingers trembled slightly, her wise old eyes were almost over-bright as, sweeping him the most graceful Court curtsey, she answered softly: ‘I have heard, sir, that all good Marsh men pay their Scotts and so maintain the ancient Wall, but in truth, sir, you have paid such tribute to an ancient Scot that she will ever try to maintain the friendship that you ask.’ Here, curiously enough, she held out her hands to the two of them.
Cicely watched this touching scene and her heart glowed. She applauded his gesture in thus giving the rose where another girl might have been petty, wanting it for herself; and she was amply rewarded, for, taking from his pocket a single glove, he handed it to her and said: ‘And beneath the tree from which I plucked my solitary symbol of admiration for your aunt I found’ — and here his smile was not devoid of mischief — ‘this
The reply was not what he had expected, having playfully asked the question so many times, and received curt ‘Nos’ or ‘Remember to forget, Mr. Mipps’. This time, however, the calm, ‘Yes, Mr. Mipps — tonight’, made him execute a few well-chosen steps from his intricate hornpipe, until the Vicar’s shattering, ‘Alone, Mr. Mipps, and not what you’re thinking,’ brought him back to earth again, and with a long face he listened to the Vicar’s plans. He brightened, however, as the scheme unfolded and he saw fun ahead, and by the time Doctor Syn had finished he was himself again — full of admiration for his master’s daring idea, as, finishing the hornpipe from where he left off, he took the proffered glass of brandy and drank success to this new enterprise. ‘That’s the best one I’ve heard yet,’ he said. ‘Wish I was a-goin’ with you. Now then, what’s me orders?’
‘To begin with, Mr. Mipps, what ships lie in Rye harbour, ready to sail?’
Mr. Mipps not only had them at his finger-tips but rattled them off — friendly vessels and otherwise — and the Vicar made decision on the Two Brothers. ‘For,’ said he, ‘she’s fast, well armed, and I like her owners and her crew. Get word to them that I shall be aboard before high tide tonight. Tell Jonathan Quested to be at Littlestone with his fishing-smack at dusk. He must sail me round to Rye, for I shall be staying there in my capacity as Dean to visit neighbouring parishes, and will, of course, inform Sir Antony. I shall want you to deliver some letters for me. The one addressed to Captain Foulkes which I shall date the day after tomorrow must be handed to him at the Red Lion on the same day. ’Tis an invitation he is looking for to meet the Scarecrow, though I do not doubt that he will meet more than he bargains for.’ Then, turning away from Mipps and looking in the fire, he took up his pipe and said almost too casually: ‘The other letter I want delivered tonight, when I have gone. ’Tis to Miss Cicely, explaining why I cannot ride with her tomorrow morning.’ He looked over his shoulder and met the Sexton’s quizzical gaze; grinned boyishly and said, ‘’I am to have my first jumping lessons on a proper horse. I fear that I shall never clear the broad dyke as she can.’