off his cap to me with mock politeness, and showed, in so doing,
a very bald head, with some very ugly-looking knobs on it. I
distrusted him worse than I did Shifty Dick, and managed to get
between his leering eyes and the book-case, as I told the two
that my father was gone out, and that I did not expect him back
till the next day.

The words were hardly out of my mouth before I repented that my
anxiety to get rid of my unwelcome visitors had made me
incautious enough to acknowledge that my father would be away
from home for the whole night.

Shifty Dick and his companion looked at each other when I
unwisely let out the truth, but made no remark except to ask me
if I would give them a drop of cider. I answered sharply that I
had no cider in the house, having no fear of the consequences of
refusing them drink, because I knew that plenty of men were at
work within hail, in a neighboring quarry. The two looked at each
other again when I denied having any cider to give them; and
Jerry (as I am obliged to call him, knowing no other name by
which to distinguish the fellow) took off his cap to me once
more, and, with a kind of blackguard gentility upon him, said
they would have the pleasure of calling the next day, when my
father was at home. I said good-afternoon as ungraciously as
possible, and, to my great relief, they both left the cottage
immediately afterward.

As soon as they were well away, I watched them from the door.
They trudged off in the direction of Moor Farm; and, as it was
beginning to get dusk, I soon lost sight of them.