"Sometimes," said I, without looking up.
"An' I be very old an' tired, Peter; my 'eart be all wore out wi'
beatin' an' beatin' all these years--'tis a wonder as it didn't
stop afore now--but a--a--stapil, Peter, don't 'ave no 'eart to
go a-beatin' an' a-wearin' of itself away?"
"No, Ancient."
"So 'ere be I, a-standin' in the Valley o' the Shadow, an'
waitin' for God's Angel to take my 'and for to show me the way.
'Tis a darksome road, Peter, but I bean't afeared, an' there be a
light beyond Jordan-water. No, I aren't afeared to meet the God
as made me, for 'the Lord is merciful--and very kind,' an' I
don't s'pose as 'E'll be very 'ard on a old, old man as did 'is
best, an' wi' a 'eart all tired an' wore away wi' beatin'--I be
ready, Peter only--"
"Yes, Ancient?"
"Oh, Peter!--it be that theer old stapil--as'll go on rustin'
away an' rustin' away arter the old man as watched it so is laid
in the earth, an' forgot about--"
"No," said I, without looking up, but slipping my hand into my
pocket; "no, Ancient--"
"Peter--Oh, Peter!--do 'ee mean--?"
"I mean that, although it had no heart, the staple was tired and
worn out--just as you are, and so I brought it to you," and I
slipped the rusty bit of iron into the old man's trembling palm.
"O Lord--!" he began in a fervent voice, "O dear Lord!--I got
it, Lord--th' owd stapil--I be ready to come to Thee, an' j'yful
--j'yful! an' for this mercy, an' benefit received--blessed be Thy
name. Amen!"
He lay very quiet for a while, with the broken staple clasped to
his breast, and his eyes closed.
"Peter," said he suddenly, "you won't 'ave no one to bring you
noos no more--why, Peter! be 'ee cryin'--for me? 'Tis true 't
were me as found ye, but I didn't think as you'd go to cry tears
for me--I be goin' to tak' t' owd stapil wi' me, Peter, all along
the road--an', Peter--"
"Yes, Ancient?"
"Be you quite sure as you aren't a dook?"
"Quite sure."
"Nor a earl?"
"No, Ancient."
"Not even a--barrynet?"
"No, Ancient."
"Ah, well!--you be a man, Peter, an' 'tis summ'at to ha' found a
man--that it be."
And now he feebly beckoned us all nearer.