86 MASTER SKYLARK

that thou shouldst go back to-morrow—were not those my
very words?”

“ Ay, that they were,” cried Nick; “and why will ye na
leave me go?”

“Why, this is not to-morrow, Nick. Why, see, I can-
not leave thee go to-day. Thou knowest that I said to-
morrow; and this is not to-morrow—on thine honour, is
it now?”

“How can I tell?” cried Nick, despairingly. ‘ Yester-
day ye said it would be, and now ye say that it is na,
Ye ’ve twisted it all up so that a body can na tell at all.
But there is a falsehood—a wicked, black falsehood—
somewhere betwixt you and me, sir; and ye know that I
have na lied to you, Master Carew!”

‘ Through the tap-room door he saw the open street and
the hills beyond the town. Catching his breath, he sprang
across the sill, and ran for the free fields at the top of his
speed.