hisgrandmother
's
settlement
upon
the
solitary
hillside
,
only
withholding
the
fact
of
his
grandfather
's
transportation
,
because
Tim
was
listening
eagerly
to
every
word
.
Miss
Anne
listened
,
too
,
with
deep
attention
;
and
once
or
twice
the
tears
rose
to
her
eyes
as
she
heard
of
the
weary
labours
and
watchings
of
the
desolate
woman
;
and
when
Stephen
repeated
his
resolution
to
work
hard
and
constantly
for
the
maintenance
of
his
grandfather
and
little
Nan
—
'
Yes
,
I
will
be
your
friend
,
'
she
said
,
reaching
out
her
hand
to
him
when
he
had
finished
,
'
even
if
my
uncle
is
your
enemy
.
God
has
not
given
me
much
power
,
but
what
I
have
I
will
use
for
you
;
and
you
must
go
on
striving
to
do
right
,
Stephen
.
'
'
I
ca
n't
read
much
,
'
replied
Stephen
anxiously
,
'
and
Martha
ca
n't
read
at
all
;
but
I
hope
we
shall
all
get
safe
to
heaven
!
'
'
Knowing
how
to
read
will
not
take
us
to
heaven
,
'
said
Miss
Anne
,
smiling
,
'
but
doing
the
will
of
God
from
the
heart
;
and
the
will
of
God
is
that
we
should
believe
in
the
Lord
Jesus
,
and
follow
in
His
steps
.
'
'
Yes
,
ma'am
,
'
answered
Stephen
;
'
my
chapter
says
,
"
Whosoever
shall
break
one
of
these
least
commandments
,
and
shall
teach
men
so
,
shall
be
called
the
least
in
the
kingdom
of
heaven
:
but
whosoever
shall
do
and
teach
them
,
the
same
shall
be
called
great
in
the
kingdom
of
heaven
.
"
'
'
Stephen
,
you
know
your
chapter
well
,
'
said
Miss
Anne
.
'
I
do
n't
know
anything
else
,
'
he
answered
;
'
so
I
am
always
studying
at
that
in
my
head
,
up
here
and
down
in
the
pit
.
'
'
He
's
always
mighty
solid
over
his
work
,
ma'am
,
'
said
Tim
,
pulling
the
front
lock
of
his
red
hair
,
as
he
spoke
to
the
young
lady
.
'
Stephen
,
do
you
know
that
you
have
a
namesake
in
the
Bible
?
'
asked
Miss
Anne
.
'
No
,
sure
!
'
exclaimed
Stephen
eagerly
.
'
It
was
the
name
of
a
man
who
had
many
enemies
,
only
because
he
loved
the
Lord
Jesus
;
and
at
last
they
hated
him
so
much
as
to
kill
him
.
He
was
the
very
first
person
who
ever
suffered
death
for
the
Lord
's
sake
.
Give
me
your
Bible
,
and
I
will
read
to
you
how
he
died
.
'
Miss
Anne
's
voice
was
very
low
and
soft
,
like
sweet
music
,
as
she
read
these
verses
:
'
And
they
stoned
Stephen
,
calling
upon
God
,
and
saying
,
Lord
Jesus
,
receive
my
spirit
.
And
he
kneeled
down
,
and
cried
with
a
loud
voice
,
Lord
,
lay
not
this
sin
to
their
charge
.
And
when
he
had
said
this
,
he
fell
asleep
.
'
Stephen
listened
breathlessly
,
and
his
face
glowed
with
intense
interest
;
but
he
was
not
a
boy
of
ready
speech
,
and
,
before
he
could
utter
a
word
,
Tim
burst
in
before
him
with
a
question
,
'
Please
,
is
there
a
Tim
in
the
Bible
?
'
he
asked
.
'
Yes
,
'
answered
Miss
Anne
,
smiling
again
;
'
he
was
a
young
man
who
knew
the
Bible
from
his
youth
.
'
'
That
ai
n't
me
,
however
,
'
said
Tim
in
a
despondent
tone
.
'
There
is
nothing
now
to
prevent
you
beginning
to
know
it
,
'
continued
Miss
Anne
.
'
Listen
:
as
Stephen
cannot
come
to
me
at
Botfield
,
you
shall
meet
me
in
the
Red
Gravel
Pit
at
nine
o'clock
on
a
Sunday
morning
as
long
as
the
summer
lasts
,
and
I
will
teach
you
all
.
Bring
little
Nan
with
you
,
Stephen
.
'
Down
the
same
narrow
green
pathway
trodden
by
the
feet
of
Stephen
's
angry
master
and
his
brother
the
evening
before
,
they
now
watched
the
little
light
figure
of
the
young
lady
,
as
she
slowly
vanished
out
of
their
sight
.
When
the
gleaming
of
her
dress
was
quite
lost
,
Stephen
rubbed
his
eyes
for
a
moment
,
and
then
turned
to
Martha
and
Tim
.
'
Is
she
a
real
woman
,
dost
think
?
'
he
asked
.
'
A
real
woman
!
'
repeated
Martha
rather
scornfully
;
'
of
course
she
is
;
and
it
's
a
real
silk
gown
she
had
on
,
I
can
tell
thee
.
Spirits
do
n't
go
about
in
silk
gowns
and
broad
daylight
,
never
as
I
heard
tell
of
,
lad
.
'
CHAPTER
VI
.
THE
RED
GRAVEL
PIT
.
At
the
entrance
of
the
lane
leading
down
to
the
works
at
Botfield
there
stood
a
small
square
building
,
which
was
used
as
the
weighing-house
for
the
coal
and
lime
fetched
from
the
pits
,
and
as
the
pay-office
on
the
reckoning
Saturday
,
which
came
once
a
fortnight
.
Upon
the
Saturday
evening
after
his
interview
with
the
master
,
Stephen
loitered
in
the
lane
with
a
very
heavy
heart
,
afraid
of
facing
Mr.
Wyley
,
lest
he
should
receive
the
sentence
of
dismission
from
the
pit
.
He
did
not
know
what
he
could
turn
his
hand
to
if
he
should
be
discharged
from
what
had
been
his
work
since
he
was
eight
years
old
;
for
even
if
he
could
get
a
place
in
one
of
the
farmhouses
about
as
waggoner
's
boy
,
he
would
not
earn
more
than
three
shillings
a
week
;
and
how
very
little
that
would
do
towards
providing
food
for
the
three
mouths
at
home
!
Fearful
of
knowing
the
worst
,
he
lingered
about
the
office
until
all
the
other
workmen
had
been
in
and
come
out
again
jingling
their
wages
.
But
the
master
and
his
brother
Thomas
had
been
taking
counsel
together
about
the
matter
.
Mr.
Wyley
was
for
turning
the
boy
off
at
once
,
and
reducing
him
to
the
utmost
straits
of
poverty
;
but
his
more
prudent
brother
was
opposed
to
this
plan
.
'
Look
here
,
brother
James
,
'
he
said
;
'
if
we
drive
the
young
scamp
to
desperation
,
there
's
no
telling
what
he
will
do
.
Ten
to
one
if
he
does
not
go
and
tell
a
string
of
lies
to
some
of
the
farmers
about
here
,
or
perhaps
to
the
parson
at
Longville
,
and
they
may
make
an
unpleasant
disturbance
.
Nobody
knows
and
nobody
cares
about
him
as
it
is
;
but
he
is
a
determined
young
fellow
,
or
I
'm
mistaken
.
Better
keep
him
at
work
under
your
own
eye
,
and
make
the
place
too
hot
for
him
by
degrees
.
Before
long
you
will
catch
him
poaching
with
his
dog
,
and
if
he
is
let
off
for
a
time
or
two
because
of
his
youth
,
and
goes
at
it
again
,
we
can
make
out
a
pretty
case
of
juvenile
depravity
,
without
any
character
from
his
employer
,
you
know
;
and
so
he
will
be
sent
out
of
the
way
,
and
boarded
at
the
expense
of
the
country
for
a
few
years
or
so
.
'
'
Well
,
'
said
the
master
,
'
I
'll
try
him
once
again
.
If
he
'd
go
out
quietly
,
nobody
else
has
any
claim
upon
the
cottage
;
and
I
want
to
set
to
work
there
quickly
.
'
So
when
Stephen
entered
the
office
with
trembling
limbs
and
a
very
pale
face
under
its
dusky
covering
,
it
happened
that
he
met
with
a
very
different
reception
to
what
he
expected
.
The
master
sat
behind
a
small
counter
,
upon
which
lay
Stephen
's
twelve
shillings
,
the
only
little
heap
of
money
left
;
and
as
he
gathered
them
nervously
into
his
hand
,
he
wondered
if
this
would
be
the
last
time
.
But
his
master
's
face
was
not
more
threatening
than
usual
;
and
he
muttered
his
'
Thank
you
,
sir
,
'
and
was
turning
away
with
a
feeling
of
great
relief
,
when
Mr.
Wyley
's
harsh
voice
brought
him
back
again
,
trembling
more
than
ever
.
'
Have
you
thought
any
more
of
my
offer
,
Fern
?
'
he
asked
.
'
I
should
n't
mind
,
as
you
are
an
orphan
,
and
have
two
sisters
depending
upon
you
,
if
I
made
the
ten
pounds
into
fifteen
;
and
you
may
leave
the
money
at
interest
with
me
till
you
are
older
.
'
'
And
I
've
been
thinking
,
Stephen
,
'
added
Thomas
Wyley
,
who
sat
at
a
high
desk
checking
the
accounts
,
'
that
,
as
you
seem
set
against
being
separated
,
instead
of
taking
your
grandfather
into
the
House
,
I
'd
get
him
two
shillings
a
week
allowed
him
out
of
it
;
and
that
would
pay
the
rent
of
a
nice
two-roomed
cottage
down
in
Botfield
,
close
to
your
work
.
Come
,
that
would
make
all
of
you
comfortable
.
'
'
You
should
bear
in
mind
,
Stephen
,
'
said
the
master
,
'
that
the
place
does
not
of
right
belong
to
you
at
all
;
and
the
lord
of
the
manor
is
coming
to
shoot
over
the
estate
in
September
;
and
then
I
shall
have
orders
to
remove
you
by
force
.
So
you
had
better
take
our
offer
.
'
'
Please
,
sir
,
'
said
Stephen
,
bowing
respectfully
,
'
do
n't
be
angered
with
me
,
but
I
ca
n't
go
from
what
I
said
afore
.
Father
told
me
never
to
give
up
Fern
's
Hollow
;
and
maybe
he
'd
hear
tell
of
it
in
heaven
if
I
broke
my
word
to
him
.
I
ca
n't
do
it
,
sir
.
'
'
Well
,
wilful
will
have
his
way
,
'
said
Mr.
Thomas
,
nodding
at
the
master
;
and
as
neither
of
them
addressed
Stephen
again
,
he
left
the
office
,
amazed
to
find
that
he
was
not
forbidden
to
return
to
work
on
the
following
Monday
.
The
Red
Gravel
Pit
,
where
Miss
Anne
had
promised
to
meet
her
scholars
on
Sunday
morning
,
was
a
quarry
cut
out
of
the
side
of
one
of
the
hills
,
from
which
the
stones
were
taken
for
making
and
mending
the
roads
in
the
neighbourhood
.
The
quarry
had
been
hollowed
out
into
a
kind
of
enclosed
circle
,
only
entered
by
the
road
through
which
the
waggons
passed
.
All
along
the
edge
of
the
red
rocks
high
overhead
there
was
a
coppice
of
green
hazel-bushes
and
young
oaks
,
where
the
boys
had
spent
many
a
Sunday
searching
for
wild
nuts
,
and
hunting
the
squirrels
from
tree
to
tree
.
Stephen
and
Tim
met
half
an
hour
earlier
than
the
time
appointed
by
Miss
Anne
,
and
by
dint
of
great
perseverance
and
strength
rolled
together
five
large
stones
,
under
the
shadow
of
an
oak
tree
;
and
placed
four
of
them
in
a
row
before
the
largest
one
,
as
Tim
had
once
seen
the
children
sitting
in
the
village
school
at
Longville
,
when
he
had
taken
a
donkey-load
of
coals
for
the
schoolmaster
.
Martha
came
in
good
time
with
little
Nan
,
both
in
their
new
black
bonnets
and
clean
cotton
shawls
;
and
all
were
seated
orderly
in
a
row
when
Miss
Anne
entered
the
Red
Gravel
Pit
by
the
waggon
road
.
I
need
not
describe
to
you
how
Miss
Anne
heard
Stephen
read
his
chapter
,
and
taught
Tim
and
Martha
,
and
even
little
Nan
herself
,
the
first
few
letters
of
the
alphabet
;
after
which
she
made
them
all
repeat
a
verse
of
a
hymn
,
and
,
when
they
could
say
it
correctly
,
sang
it
with
them
over
and
over
again
,
in
her
sweet
and
clear
voice
,
until
Stephen
felt
almost
choked
with
a
sob
of
pure
gladness
,
that
would
every
now
and
then
rise
to
his
lips
.
Tim
sang
loudly
and
lustily
,
getting
out
of
tune
very
often
.
But
little
Nan
was
a
marvel
to
hear
,
so
soft
and
sweet
were
her
childish
tones
,
so
that
Miss
Anne
bade
her
sing
the
verse
alone
,
which
she
did
perfectly
.
Martha
,
too
,
was
full
of
admiration
of
the
lady
's
lilac
silk
dress
and
the
white
ribbon
on
her
bonnet
.
That
was
the
first
of
many
pleasant
Sunday
mornings
in
the
Red
Gravel
Pit
.
When
the
novelty
was
worn
away
,
Martha
discovered
that
she
had
too
much
to
do
at
home
to
be
able
to
leave
it
so
early
in
the
day
;
and
Tim
sometimes
overslept
himself
on
a
Sunday
,
when
most
of
his
comrades
spent
the
whole
morning
in
bed
.
But
Stephen
and
little
Nan
were
always
there
,
and
their
teacher
never
failed
to
meet
them
.
Nor
did
Miss
Anne
confine
her
care
of
the
orphan
children
to
a
Sunday
morning
only
.
Sometimes
she
would
mount
the
hill
during
the
long
summer
evenings
,
and
pay
their
little
household
a
visit
,
giving
Martha
many
quiet
hints
about
her
management
and
her
outlay
of
Stephen
's
wages
;
hints
which
Martha
did
not
always
receive
as
graciously
as
they
were
given
.
Miss
Anne
would
read
also
to
the
blind
old
grandfather
,
choosing
very
simple
and
easy
portions
of
the
Bible
,
especially
about
the
lost
sheep
being
found
,
as
that
pleased
the
old
shepherd
,
and
he
could
fully
understand
its
meaning
.
In
general
,
Miss
Anne
was
very
cheerful
,
and
she
would
laugh
merrily
at
times
;
but
now
and
then
her
face
looked
pale
and
sad
,
and
her
voice
was
very
mournful
while
she
talked
and
sang
with
them
.
Once
,
even
,
when
she
bade
Stephen
'
good
evening
,
'
an
exceedingly
sorrowful
expression
passed
across
her
face
,
and
she
said
to
him
,
'
I
find
it
quite
as
hard
work
to
serve
God
really
and
truly
as
you
do
,
Stephen
.
There
is
only
one
Helper
for
both
of
us
;
and
we
can
only
do
all
things
through
Christ
which
strengtheneth
us
.
'
But
Stephen
could
not
believe
that
good
,
gentle
Miss
Anne
found
it
as
hard
to
be
a
Christian
as
he
did
.
Everything
seemed
against
him
at
the
works
.
The
short
indulgence
from
hard
words
and
hard
blows
granted
him
after
his
father
's
death
was
followed
by
what
appeared
to
be
a
very
tempest
of
oppression
.
It
was
very
soon
understood
that
the
master
had
a
private
grudge
against
the
boy
;
and
though
the
workpeople
were
ground
down
and
wronged
in
a
hundred
ways
by
him
,
so
as
to
fill
them
with
hatred
and
revenge
,
they
were
not
the
less
willing
to
take
advantage
of
his
spite
against
Stephen
.
His
work
underground
,
which
had
always
been
distasteful
to
him
compared
with
a
shepherd
's
life
on
the
hills
,
was
now
made
more
toilsome
and
dangerous
than
ever
,
while
Black
Thompson
followed
him
everywhere
and
all
day
long
with
oaths
and
blows
.
Stephen
's
evident
superiority
over
the
other
boys
was
of
course
very
much
against
him
;
for
he
had
never
been
much
associated
with
them
,
as
his
distant
home
had
separated
him
from
them
excepting
during
the
busy
hours
of
labour
.
Now
,
when
,
through
his
own
self-satisfaction
and
Tim
's
loud
praises
,
his
accomplishments
became
known
,
it
is
no
wonder
that
a
storm
of
envy
and
jealousy
raged
round
him
;
for
not
only
the
boys
themselves
,
but
their
fathers
also
,
felt
affronted
at
his
wonderful
scholarship
.
To
be
sure
,
Tim
never
deserted
him
,
and
his
partisanship
was
especially
useful
on
the
bank
,
before
he
went
down
and
after
he
came
up
from
the
pit
.
But
below
,
in
the
dark
,
dismal
passages
of
the
pit
,
many
a
stripe
,
unmerited
,
fell
upon
his
bruised
shoulders
,
which
he
learned
to
bear
the
more
patiently
after
Miss
Anne
had
taught
and
explained
to
him
the
verse
,
'
But
He
was
wounded
for
our
transgressions
,
He
was
bruised
for
our
iniquities
;
the
chastisement
of
our
peace
was
upon
Him
;
and
with
His
stripes
we
are
healed
.
'
Still
Stephen
,
feeling
how
hard
it
was
to
continue
in
the
right
way
,
and
knowing
how
often
he
failed
,
to
his
own
sore
mortification
and
the
rude
triumph
of
his
comrades
,
wondered
exceedingly
how
it
was
possible
for
Miss
Anne
to
find
it
as
hard
to
be
a
follower
of
Christ
as
he
did
.
CHAPTER
VII
.
POOR
SNIP
.
The
middle
weeks
of
August
were
come
—
sunny
,
sultry
weeks
;
and
from
the
brow
of
the
hill
,
all
the
vast
plain
lying
westward
for
many
miles
looked
golden
with
the
corn
ripening
for
harvest
.
The
oats
in
the
little
field
had
already
been
reaped
;
and
the
fruit
in
the
garden
,
gathered
and
sold
by
Martha
,
had
brought
in
a
few
shillings
,
which
were
carefully
hoarded
up
to
buy
winter
clothing
.
It
was
now
the
time
of
the
yearly
gathering
of
bilberries
on
the
hills
;
and
tribes
of
women
and
children
ascended
to
the
tableland
from
all
the
villages
round
.
It
was
the
pleasantest
work
of
the
year
;
and
Martha
,
who
had
never
missed
the
bilberry
season
since
she
could
remember
,
was
not
likely
to
miss
it
now
.
Even
little
Nan
could
help
to
pick
the
berries
,
and
she
and
Martha
were
out
on
the
hillsides
all
the
livelong
summer
day
.
Their
dwelling
on
the
spot
gave
them
a
good
advantage
over
those
who
lived
down
in
Botfield
;
and
each
day
,
before
any
of
the
others
could
reach
the
best
bilberry-wires
,
they
had
already
picked
a
quart
of
the
small
purple
berries
,
fresh
and
cool
with
the
dew
of
the
morning
.
Only
the
poor
old
grandfather
had
to
be
left
at
home
alone
,
with
his
dinner
put
ready
for
him
,
which
he
was
apt
to
eat
up
long
before
the
proper
dinner-hour
came
;
and
then
he
had
to
wait
until
Stephen
returned
from
his
work
,
or
Martha
and
little
Nan
were
driven
home
by
the
August
thunderstorms
.
Martha
was
wonderfully
successful
this
year
,
and
gained
more
money
by
selling
her
bilberries
than
she
thought
necessary
to
show
to
Stephen
;
though
,
on
his
part
,
he
always
brought
her
every
penny
of
his
wages
.
Ever
since
their
father
's
funeral
there
had
been
a
subject
of
dispute
between
the
brother
and
sister
.
Martha
was
bent
upon
enclosing
the
green
dell
,
with
its
clear
,
cool
little
pond
;
and
to
this
end
she
spent
all
the
time
she
could
spare
in
raising
a
rough
fence
of
stones
and
peat
round
it
.
But
Stephen
would
not
consent
to
it
;
and
neither
argument
,
scolding
,
nor
coaxing
could
turn
him
.
He
always
answered
that
he
had
promised
the
master
that
he
would
not
trespass
on
the
manor
;
and
he
must
stand
to
his
word
,
whatever
they
might
lose
by
it
;
though
,
indeed
,
he
saw
no
harm
in
making
green
fields
out
of
the
waste
land
.
Martha
,
on
her
side
,
maintained
her
right
as
the
eldest
to
act
as
she
judged
best
;
and
,
moreover
,
urged
the
example
of
her
thrifty
grandmother
,
who
had
planned
this
very
enclosure
,
and
whose
pattern
she
was
determined
to
follow
.
But
before
long
the
dispute
was
ended
,
and
the
subject
of
it
became
a
matter
of
heart-troubling
wonder
,
for
several
labourers
from
the
master
's
farm
began
to
fence
in
the
very
same
ground
,
as
well
as
to
prepare
the
turf
behind
Fern
's
Hollow
for
the
planting
of
young
trees
;
and
neither
Stephen
nor
Martha
could
hide
from
the
other
that
these
labours
made
them
feel
exceedingly
uneasy
.
'
I
say
,
Stephen
,
'
said
one
of
the
hedgers
,
as
he
was
going
down
from
his
work
one
evening
,
and
met
the
tired
boy
coming
up
from
his
,
'
I
'm
afeared
there
's
some
mischief
brewing
.
There
's
master
,
and
Mr.
Thomas
,
and
Mr.
Jones
the
gamekeeper
,
been
talking
with
thy
grandfather
nigh
upon
an
hour
.
There
'll
be
a
upshot
some
day
,
I
know
;
and
Jones
,
he
said
summat
about
leaving
a
keepsake
for
thee
.
'
'
What
could
it
be
,
William
?
'
asked
Stephen
anxiously
.
'
How
should
I
know
?
'
said
the
man
,
with
some
reluctance
.
'
Only
,
lad
,
I
did
hear
a
gun
go
off
;
and
I
never
heard
Snip
bark
again
,
though
I
listened
for
him
.
Stephen
,
Stephen
,
dunna
thee
go
so
mad
like
!
'
But
it
was
no
use
shouting
after
Stephen
,
as
he
ran
frantically
up
the
hill
.
Snip
was
always
basking
lazily
in
the
sunshine
under
the
hedge
of
the
paddock
,
at
the
very
point
where
he
could
catch
the
first
sight
of
his
young
master
,
after
which
there
was
no
more
idleness
or
stillness
in
him
.
Stephen
could
hardly
breathe
when
he
found
that
Snip
was
not
at
the
usual
place
to
greet
him
;
but
before
he
reached
his
home
he
saw
it
—
the
dead
body
of
his
own
poor
Snip
—
hung
on
the
post
of
the
wicket
through
which
he
had
to
pass
.
He
flew
to
the
place
;
he
tore
his
own
hands
with
the
nails
that
were
driven
through
Snip
's
feet
;
and
then
,
without
a
thought
of
his
grandfather
or
of
his
own
hunger
,
he
bore
away
the
dead
dog
in
his
arms
,
and
wandered
far
out
of
sight
or
sound
of
the
hateful
,
cruel
world
,
into
one
of
the
most
solitary
plains
upon
the
uplands
.
Any
one
passing
by
might
have
thought
that
Stephen
was
fast
asleep
in
the
last
slanting
rays
of
the
sun
,
which
shone
upon
him
there
some
time
after
the
evening
shadows
had
fallen
upon
Botfield
;
but
a
frenzy
of
passion
,
too
strong
for
any
words
,
had
felled
him
to
the
ground
,
where
he
lay
beside
Snip
.
The
gamekeeper
,
who
had
so
many
dogs
that
he
did
not
care
for
any
one
of
them
in
particular
,
had
killed
this
one
creature
that
was
dearer
to
him
than
anything
in
the
world
,
except
little
Nan
,
and
grandfather
,
and
Martha
.
And
Snip
was
dead
,
without
remedy
;
no
power
on
earth
could
bring
back
the
departed
life
.
Oh
,
if
he
could
only
punish
the
villain
who
had
shot
his
poor
faithful
dog
!
But
he
was
nothing
but
a
poor
boy
,
very
poor
,
and
very
helpless
and
friendless
,
and
people
would
only
laugh
at
his
trouble
.
All
the
world
was
against
him
,
and
he
could
do
nothing
to
revenge
himself
,
but
to
hate
everybody
!
'
Why
,
lad
!
why
,
Stephen
!
what
ails
thee
?
'
said
Black
Thompson
's
voice
,
close
behind
him
.
'
Eh
!
who
's
gone
and
shot
Snip
?
That
rascal
Jones
,
I
'll
go
bail
!
Is
he
quite
dead
,
Stephen
?
Stand
up
,
lad
,
and
let
's
give
a
look
at
him
.
'
The
boy
rose
,
and
faced
Black
Thompson
and
his
comrade
with
eyes
that
were
bloodshot
,
though
he
had
not
shed
a
tear
,
and
with
lips
almost
bitten
through
by
his
angry
teeth
.
Both
the
men
handled
the
dog
gently
and
carefully
,
but
,
after
a
moment
's
inspection
,
Thompson
laid
it
down
again
on
the
turf
.
'
It
's
a
shame
!
'
he
cried
,
with
an
oath
that
sounded
pleasantly
in
Stephen
's
ears
;
'
it
was
one
of
the
best
little
dogs
about
.
I
'd
take
my
vengeance
on
him
for
this
.
In
thy
place
,
I
could
n't
sleep
till
I
'd
done
something
.
'
'
Ay
!
'
said
Stephen
,
with
flashing
eyes
;
'
I
know
where
he
's
keeping
a
covey
of
birds
up
against
game
day
—
nineteen
of
them
.
I
've
seen
them
every
day
,
and
I
could
go
to
the
place
in
the
dark
.
'
'
That
's
a
brave
lad
!
'
said
Black
Thompson
;
'
he
's
got
his
father
's
pluck
after
all
,
as
I
've
always
told
thee
,
Davies
,
and
we
'll
see
him
righted
.
He
's
got
his
eyes
in
his
head
,
has
this
lad
!
'
'
They
're
down
in
the
leasowe
,
between
the
Firspinny
and
Ragleth
Hill
,
'
continued
Stephen
;
'
and
they
're
just
prime
,
I
can
tell
ye
.
And
I
know
,
too
,
what
he
does
n't
know
himself
.
I
know
to
some
black
game
,
far
away
up
the
hill
.
He
'd
give
his
two
eyes
to
see
them
,
with
their
white
wing-feathers
;
and
if
he
had
n't
'
—
Stephen
stopped
,
with
quivering
lips
,
for
he
could
not
speak
yet
of
Snip
's
murder
.
'
Never
take
on
,
my
lad
,
'
said
Black
Thompson
,
clapping
him
on
the
back
;
'
we
'll
spoil
his
sport
for
him
.
Come
thy
ways
with
us
;
it
'll
be
dark
dusk
afore
we
gain
the
spinny
,
and
Jones
is
off
to
the
Whitehurst
woods
to-night
.
We
'll
have
as
rare
sport
as
the
lord
of
the
manor
himself
.
Thee
art
a
sharp
one
.
I
'd
lay
a
round
wager
,
now
,
thee
knows
where
all
the
sheep
of
the
hillside
fold
of
nights
.
'
'
Ay
,
do
I
,
'
answered
Stephen
,
walking
briskly
beside
Black
Thompson
;
'
I
know
every
walk
and
every
fold
on
the
hills
;
ay
,
and
many
of
the
sheep
themselves
.
I
keep
my
eyes
wide
open
out
of
doors
,
I
promise
ye
.
'
'
I
'll
swear
to
that
,
'
said
Black
Thompson
,
glad
to
encourage
the
boy
in
his
foolish
boasting
.
On
their
way
they
passed
near
to
Fern
's
Hollow
,
and
Stephen
heard
little
Nan
's
shrill
voice
calling
his
name
,
as
if
she
were
seeking
him
weariedly
;
but
when
he
hesitated
for
a
moment
,
his
heart
yearning
to
answer
her
,
Black
Thompson
again
patted
him
on
the
back
,
and
bade
him
never
show
the
white
feather
,
but
remember
poor
dead
Snip
;
at
which
his
passion
for
revenge
returned
,
and
he
pressed
on
eagerly
to
the
fir-coppice
.
It
was
quite
dark
when
they
entered
the
path
leading
through
the
wood
.
No
one
spoke
now
,
and
they
trod
cautiously
,
lest
there
should
be
any
noise
from
their
footsteps
.
The
tall
black
fir-trees
towered
above
them
to
an
unusual
height
;
and
through
all
the
topmost
branches
there
ran
a
low
,
mournful
sound
,
as
if
every
tree
was
whispering
about
them
,
and
lamenting
over
them
.
Even
the
little
brook
,
which
in
the
sunshine
rippled
so
merrily
along
the
borders
of
the
wood
,
seemed
to
be
sobbing
like
a
grieved
and
tired
child
in
the
night-time
.
Strange
rustlings
on
every
side
,
and
sudden
groanings
of
the
withered
boughs
in
some
of
the
pines
,
made
them
start
in
fear
;
and
once
,
in
a
little
opening
among
the
trees
,
when
the
stars
came
out
and
looked
down
upon
them
,
Stephen
would
have
given
all
he
had
in
the
world
to
be
safe
at
home
,
with
little
Nan
singing
hymns
on
his
knee
,
or
quietly
asleep
after
the
hot
and
busy
day
.
'
It
's
lonesome
enough
to
make
a
bull-dog
afeared
,
'
whispered
Davies
,
in
a
frightened
tone
.
But
before
long
they
were
out
of
the
wood
;
and
in
the
glimmer
of
light
that
lasts
all
night
through
during
the
summer
,
Stephen
saw
Black
Thompson
unwind
a
net
,
which
had
been
wrapped
round
his
body
under
his
collier
's
jacket
.
More
than
half
the
covey
of
partridges
were
bagged
;
and
they
had
such
capital
luck
,
as
the
men
called
it
,
that
Stephen
soon
entered
into
the
daring
spirit
of
the
adventure
.
It
sent
a
thrill
of
excitement
through
him
,
in
which
poor
Snip
was
for
the
time
forgotten
;
and
when
about
midnight
Black
Thompson
and
Davies
said
'
Good-night
'
to
him
at
his
cottage
door
,
calling
him
a
brave
fellow
,
and
giving
him
a
fine
young
leveret
,
with
the
promise
that
he
should
have
his
share
of
whatever
money
they
received
for
their
spoil
,
he
entered
his
dark
home
,
where
every
one
was
slumbering
peacefully
,
and
,
without
a
thought
of
sorrow
or
repentance
,
was
quickly
asleep
himself
.
CHAPTER
VIII
.
STEPHEN
AND
THE
GAMEKEEPER
.
Martha
's
exclamation
of
surprise
and
delight
at
seeing
the
leveret
was
the
first
sound
that
Stephen
heard
in
the
morning
;
but
he
preserved
a
sullen
silence
as
to
his
absence
the
previous
night
,
and
Martha
was
too
shrewd
to
press
him
with
questions
.
They
had
not
been
unused
to
such
fare
during
their
father
's
lifetime
;
and
it
was
settled
between
them
that
she
should
come
down
from
the
bilberry-plain
early
in
the
afternoon
to
make
a
feast
of
the
leveret
by
the
time
of
Stephen
's
return
from
the
pit
.
All
day
long
Stephen
found
himself
treated
with
marked
distinction
and
favour
by
Black
Thompson
and
his
comrades
,
to
some
of
whom
he
heard
him
say
,
in
a
loud
whisper
,
that
'
Stephen
'
ud
show
himself
a
chip
of
the
old
block
yet
.
'
At
dinner
they
invited
him
to
sit
within
their
circle
,
where
he
laughed
and
talked
with
the
best
of
them
,
and
was
listened
to
as
if
he
were
already
a
man
.
How
different
to
his
usually
hurried
meal
beside
the
horses
,
that
worked
like
himself
in
the
dark
,
close
passages
,
but
did
not
,
like
him
,
ascend
each
evening
to
the
grassy
fields
and
the
pure
air
of
the
upper
earth
!
Stephen
had
a
true
tenderness
in
his
nature
towards
these
dumb
fellow-labourers
,
and
they
loved
the
sound
of
his
voice
,
and
the
kindly
patting
of
his
hand
;
but
somehow
he
felt
as
if
they
knew
how
he
had
left
his
faithful
old
Snip
unburied
on
the
open
hillside
,
where
Black
Thompson
had
found
him
in
his
passion
the
evening
before
.
He
was
not
sorry
for
what
he
had
done
;
he
would
avenge
himself
on
the
gamekeeper
again
whenever
there
was
an
opportunity
.
Even
now
,
he
promised
Black
Thompson
,
when
they
were
away
from
the
other
colliers
,
to
show
him
the
haunts
of
the
scarce
black
grouse
,
which
would
be
so
valuable
to
the
gamekeeper
;
and
he
enjoyed
Black
Thompson
's
applause
.
But
there
was
a
sore
pang
in
his
heart
,
as
he
remembered
dead
Snip
,
unburied
on
the
hillside
.
Supper
was
ready
when
he
reached
home
;
and
what
a
savoury
smell
came
through
the
open
door
,
quite
down
to
the
wicket
!
Of
course
Snip
was
not
watching
for
him
;
and
little
Nan
also
,
instead
of
looking
out
for
him
as
usual
,
was
waiting
eagerly
to
be
helped
;
for
,
as
soon
as
Stephen
was
seen
over
the
brow
of
the
hill
,
Martha
poured
her
dainty
stew
into
a
large
brown
dish
,
and
she
had
already
portioned
out
a
plateful
for
the
grandfather
.
Few
words
were
uttered
,
for
Martha
was
hot
,
and
rather
testy
;
and
Stephen
felt
a
sullen
weight
hanging
upon
his
spirits
.
Only
every
now
and
then
the
old
grandfather
,
chuckling
and
mumbling
over
the
uncommon
delicacy
,
would
call
Stephen
by
his
father
's
name
of
James
,
and
thank
him
for
his
rare
supper
.
'
Good
evening
,
'
said
Miss
Anne
's
voice
,
and
as
the
light
from
the
doorway
was
darkened
,
all
the
party
looked
up
quickly
,
and
Stephen
felt
himself
growing
hot
and
cold
by
turns
.
'
Your
supper
smells
very
nice
,
Martha
;
there
has
been
some
good
cooking
done
to-day
.
'
'
Oh
,
Miss
Anne
,
'
cried
Martha
,
colouring
up
with
excitement
and
fear
,
'
it
is
a
young
leveret
Mrs.
Jones
,
the
gamekeeper
's
wife
,
gave
me
for
some
knitting
I
'd
done
for
her
;
she
said
it
'
ud
be
a
treat
for
grandfather
.
I
've
been
cooking
it
all
evening
,
ma'am
,
and
it
's
very
toothsome
.
If
you
'd
only
just
taste
a
mouthful
,
it
'
ud
make
me
ever
so
proud
.
'
'
Thank
you
,
Martha
,
'
said
Miss
Anne
,
smiling
;
'
I
am
quite
hungry
with
climbing
the
hill
,
and
if
it
is
as
good
as
the
bread
you
gave
me
the
other
day
,
I
shall
enjoy
having
my
supper
with
you
.
'
Stephen
scarcely
heard
what
Miss
Anne
said
to
him
,
while
he
watched
Martha
bustling
about
to
reach
out
a
grand
china
plate
,
which
was
one
of
the
great
treasures
of
their
possessions
;
and
he
looked
on
silently
as
she
chose
the
daintiest
morsels
of
the
stew
;
but
when
she
moved
the
little
table
nearer
to
the
door
,
and
laid
the
plate
and
knife
and
fork
upon
it
,
before
Miss
Anne
,
he
started
to
his
feet
,
unable
to
sit
still
and
see
her
partake
of
the
food
which
he
had
procured
in
such
a
manner
.
'
Do
n't
touch
it
!
do
n't
taste
it
,
Miss
Anne
!
'
he
cried
excitedly
.
'
Oh
,
please
to
come
out
with
me
to
the
bent
of
the
hill
,
and
I
'll
tell
you
why
.
But
do
n't
eat
any
of
it
!
'
He
darted
out
at
the
door
before
Martha
could
stop
him
,
and
ran
down
the
green
path
to
a
place
where
he
was
out
of
sight
and
hearing
of
his
home
,
waiting
breathlessly
for
Miss
Anne
to
overtake
him
.
It
was
some
minutes
before
she
came
,
and
her
face
was
overcast
and
troubled
;
but
she
listened
in
silence
,
while
,
without
concealment
,
but
with
many
bitter
and
passionate
words
against
the
gamekeeper
,
and
excuses
for
his
own
conduct
,
he
confessed
to
her
all
the
occurrences
of
the
night
before
.
Every
moment
his
agitation
increased
under
her
quiet
,
mournful
look
of
reproach
,
until
,
as
he
came
to
the
close
,
he
cried
out
in
a
sorrowful
but
defiant
tone
,
'
Oh
,
Miss
Anne
,
I
could
not
bear
it
!
'
'
Do
you
remember
,
'
she
asked
,
in
a
low
and
tender
voice
,
'
how
poor
Snip
used
to
follow
me
down
to
this
very
spot
,
and
sit
here
till
I
was
out
of
sight
?
I
was
very
fond
of
poor
old
Snip
,
Stephen
!
'
Yes
,
her
voice
trembled
,
and
tears
were
in
her
eyes
.
The
proud
bulwark
which
Stephen
had
been
raising
against
his
grief
was
broken
down
in
a
moment
.
He
sank
down
on
the
turf
at
Miss
Anne
's
feet
;
and
,
no
longer
checking
the
tears
which
had
been
burning
in
his
eyes
all
day
,
he
wept
and
sobbed
vehemently
,
until
his
passion
had
worn
away
.
'
And
now
,
'
said
Miss
Anne
,
sitting
down
beside
him
,
'
I
must
tell
you
that
,
though
I
am
not
surprised
,
I
am
very
,
very
grieved
,
Stephen
.
If
you
knew
your
Bible
more
,
you
would
have
read
this
verse
in
it
,
"
God
is
faithful
,
who
will
not
suffer
you
to
be
tempted
above
that
ye
are
able
;
but
will
with
the
temptation
also
make
a
way
to
escape
,
that
ye
may
be
able
to
bear
it
.
"
Did
no
way
of
escape
open
to
you
,
Stephen
?
'
Then
Stephen
remembered
how
he
had
heard
dear
little
Nan
calling
piteously
to
him
as
he
passed
Fern
's
Hollow
with
Black
Thompson
;
and
how
his
heart
yearned
to
go
to
her
,
though
he
had
resisted
and
conquered
this
saving
impulse
.
'
You
do
not
know
much
,
'
continued
Miss
Anne
,
'
but
if
you
had
followed
out
all
you
do
know
,
instead
of
poaching
with
Black
Thompson
that
you
might
revenge
yourself
for
Snip
being
killed
,
you
would
have
been
praying
for
them
that
persecute
you
.
The
Bible
says
that
not
a
sparrow
falls
to
the
ground
without
our
Father
.
So
God
knew
that
poor
Snip
was
shot
.
'
'
But
why
did
He
not
hinder
it
?
'
asked
Stephen
,
speaking
low
and
indistinctly
.
'
Stephen
,
'
said
Miss
Anne
earnestly
,
'
suppose
that
I
lived
in
a
very
grand
palace
,
where
there
were
many
things
that
you
had
never
seen
,
and
I
wanted
little
Nan
to
come
and
live
with
me
,
not
as
a
servant
,
but
as
my
dear
child
;
would
it
be
unkind
of
me
to
send
her
first
to
a
school
,
where
she
could
learn
how
to
read
the
books
,
and
understand
the
pictures
,
and
play
the
music
she
would
find
in
my
palace
?
Even
if
the
lessons
were
often
hard
,
and
some
of
her
schoolfellows
were
cruel
and
unkind
to
her
,
would
it
not
be
better
for
her
to
bear
it
for
a
little
while
,
until
she
was
made
ready
to
live
with
me
as
my
own
child
?
'
The
young
lady
paused
for
a
few
minutes
,
while
Stephen
pictured
to
himself
the
grand
palace
,
and
little
Nan
being
made
fit
to
live
in
it
;
and
when
at
last
he
raised
his
brown
eyes
to
hers
,
bright
with
the
pleasant
thought
,
she
went
on
in
a
quiet
,
reverential
tone
:
'
Perhaps
we
could
not
understand
any
of
the
things
of
heaven
,
so
our
Father
which
is
in
heaven
sends
us
to
school
here
;
we
are
learning
lessons
all
our
life
long
.
There
is
not
a
single
trouble
that
comes
to
us
but
it
is
to
teach
us
the
meaning
of
something
we
shall
meet
with
there
.
We
should
not
be
happy
to
hear
the
angels
singing
a
song
which
we
could
not
understand
,
because
we
had
missed
our
lessons
down
here
.
'
'
Oh
,
Miss
Anne
,
'
cried
Stephen
,
'
I
feel
as
if
I
could
bear
anything
when
I
think
of
that
!
Only
I
wish
I
was
as
strong
as
an
angel
.
'
'
Patience
is
better
than
strength
,
'
said
Miss
Anne
,
in
a
tone
as
if
she
were
speaking
to
herself
:
'
patiently
to
bear
the
will
of
God
,
and
patiently
to
keep
His
commandments
,
is
greater
and
more
glorious
than
the
strength
of
an
angel
.
'
'
Black
Thompson
was
so
kind
to
me
all
to-day
,
'
said
Stephen
,
sighing
;
'
and
now
he
'll
be
ten
times
worse
if
I
go
back
from
telling
him
where
the
black
game
is
.
'
'
You
must
do
right
,
'
replied
Miss
Anne
,
with
a
glance
that
brought
back
true
courage
to
the
boy
's
heart
;
'
and
remember
that
"
blessed
are
they
which
are
persecuted
for
righteousness
'
sake
,
for
theirs
is
the
kingdom
of
heaven
.
"
Now
,
good-night
,
Stephen
.
Go
and
bury
poor
Snip
while
there
is
daylight
,
in
some
quiet
place
where
you
can
go
and
think
and
read
and
play
sometimes
.
'
Stephen
returned
to
the
hut
for
a
spade
,
and
then
went
,
with
a
strange
blending
of
grief
and
gladness
,
to
the
place
where
he
had
left
his
poor
dog
.
He
chose
a
solitary
yew
tree
on
the
hill
for
the
burial
ground
,
and
dug
as
deep
a
grave
as
he
could
among
the
far-spreading
roots
.
It
was
strange
,
only
such
things
do
happen
now
and
then
,
that
while
he
was
working
away
hard
and
fast
,
with
the
dead
dog
lying
by
under
the
trunk
of
the
yew
tree
,
the
gamekeeper
himself
passed
that
way
.
He
had
been
in
a
terrible
temper
all
day
,
for
he
had
discovered
the
mischief
done
down
in
the
fir-coppice
,
and
the
loss
of
his
carefully-preserved
covey
.
The
sight
of
Stephen
and
dead
Snip
irritated
him
;
though
a
feeling
of
shame
crept
over
him
as
he
saw
how
tear-stained
the
boy
's
face
was
.
'
Mr
.
Jones
,
'
said
Stephen
,
'
I
've
something
to
say
to
you
.
'
'
Be
sharp
,
then
,
'
replied
the
gamekeeper
,
'
and
mind
what
you
're
about
.
I
'll
not
take
any
impudence
from
a
young
rascal
like
you
.
'
'
It
's
no
impudence
,
'
answered
Stephen
;
'
only
I
know
to
some
black
game
,
and
I
wanted
to
tell
you
about
them
.
'
'
Black
game
!
'
he
said
contemptuously
.
'
A
likely
story
.
There
's
been
none
these
half-dozen
years
.
'
'
It
's
four
years
since
,
'
answered
Stephen
;
'
I
remember
,
because
grandfather
and
I
saw
them
the
day
mother
died
,
when
little
Nan
was
born
.
I
could
n't
forget
them
or
mistake
them
after
that
.
They
are
at
the
head
of
the
Black
Valley
,
where
the
quaking
noise
begins
.
I
'm
sure
I
'm
right
,
sir
.
'
'
You
are
not
making
game
of
me
?
'
asked
Jones
,
laughing
heartily
at
his
own
wit
.
'
Well
,
my
lad
,
if
this
is
true
,
it
will
be
worth
something
to
me
.
Hark
ye
,
I
'm
sorry
about
your
dog
,
and
you
shall
choose
any
one
of
mine
you
like
,
if
you
'll
promise
to
keep
him
out
of
mischief
.
'
'
I
could
n't
have
another
dog
in
Snip
's
place
,
'
replied
Stephen
in
a
choked
voice
;
'
at
any
rate
not
yet
,
thank
you
,
sir
.
'
'
Well
,
'
said
the
gamekeeper
,
shouldering
his
gun
,
and
walking
off
,
'
I
'll
be
your
friend
,
young
Fern
,
when
it
does
not
hurt
myself
.
'
CHAPTER
IX
.
HOMELESS
.
Of
course
Stephen
's
brief
term
of
favour
with
Black
Thompson
was
at
an
end
;
but
whether
Miss
Anne
had
given
him
a
hint
that
the
boy
was
under
her
protection
,
and
had
confessed
all
to
her
,
or
because
he
might
be
busy
in
some
deeper
scheme
of
wickedness
,
he
did
not
display
as
much
anger
as
Stephen
expected
,
when
he
refused
to
show
him
the
haunts
of
the
grouse
,
or
go
with
him
again
on
a
poaching
expedition
.
Stephen
was
more
humble
and
vigilant
than
he
had
been
before
falling
into
temptation
.
He
set
a
close
watch
upon
himself
,
lest
he
should
be
betrayed
into
a
self-confident
spirit
again
;
and
Tim
's
loud
praises
sounded
less
pleasantly
in
his
ears
,
so
that
one
evening
he
told
him
,
with
much
shame
,
into
what
sin
he
had
been
led
by
his
desire
to
avenge
Snip
's
murder
.
Unfortunately
,
this
disclosure
so
much
heightened
Tim
's
estimation
of
his
character
,
that
from
time
to
time
he
gave
utterance
to
mysterious
hints
of
the
extraordinary
courage
and
spirit
Stephen
could
manifest
when
occasion
required
.
These
praises
were
,
however
,
in
some
measure
balanced
by
Martha
's
taunts
and
reproaches
at
home
.
The
shooting
season
had
commenced
,
and
the
lord
of
the
manor
was
come
,
with
a
number
of
his
friends
,
to
shoot
over
the
hills
and
plantations
.
He
was
a
frank
,
pleasant-looking
gentleman
,
but
far
too
grand
and
high
for
Stephen
to
address
,
though
he
gazed
wistfully
at
him
whenever
he
chanced
to
meet
him
on
the
hills
.
One
afternoon
Martha
saw
him
and
the
master
walking
towards
Fern
's
Hollow
,
where
the
fencing-in
of
the
green
and
of
the
coppice
behind
the
hut
were
being
finished
rapidly
;
and
she
crept
with
stealthy
steps
under
the
hedge
of
the
garden
,
until
she
came
within
earshot
of
them
;
but
they
were
just
moving
on
,
and
all
she
heard
of
the
conversation
were
these
words
,
from
the
lord
of
the
manor
:
'
You
shall
have
it
at
any
rate
you
fix
,
Wyley
—
at
a
peppercorn
rent
,
if
you
please
;
but
I
will
not
sell
a
square
yard
of
my
land
out
and
out
.
'
How
Martha
and
Stephen
did
talk
about
those
words
over
and
over
again
,
and
could
never
come
to
any
conclusion
about
them
.
It
was
about
noon
on
Michaelmas
Day
,
a
day
which
was
of
no
note
up
at
Fern
's
Hollow
,
where
there
was
no
rent
to
be
paid
,
and
Martha
was
busily
hanging
out
clothes
to
dry
on
the
gorse
bushes
before
the
house
,
when
she
saw
a
troop
of
labourers
coming
over
the
brow
of
the
hill
and
crossing
the
newly-enclosed
pasture
.
They
were
armed
with
mattocks
and
pickaxes
;
but
as
the
peaceful
little
cottage
rose
before
them
,
with
blind
old
Fern
basking
in
the
warm
sunshine
,
and
little
Nan
playing
quietly
about
the
door-sill
,
the
men
gathered
into
a
little
knot
,
and
stood
still
with
an
irresolute
and
ashamed
aspect
.
'
They
know
nothing
about
it
,
'
said
William
Morris
;
'
look
at
them
,
as
easy
and
unconcerned
as
lambs
.
I
was
afeared
there
'd
be
a
upshot
,
when
the
master
were
after
old
Fern
so
long
.
I
do
n't
half
like
the
job
;
and
Stephen
is
n't
here
.
He
does
look
a
bit
like
a
man
,
and
we
could
argy
with
him
;
but
that
old
man
,
and
that
girl
—
they
'll
take
on
so
.
'
'
I
say
,
Martha
,
'
shouted
a
bolder-hearted
man
,
'
has
n't
the
master
let
thee
know
thee
must
turn
out
to-day
?
He
wants
to
lay
the
foundation
of
a
new
house
,
and
get
the
walls
up
afore
the
frost
comes
on
;
and
we
are
come
to
pick
the
old
place
to
the
ground
.
He
only
told
us
an
hour
ago
,
or
we
'd
have
seen
thee
was
ready
.
'
'
I
do
n't
believe
thee
;
thee
's
only
romancing
,
'
said
Martha
,
turning
very
pale
.
'
The
old
place
is
our
own
,
and
no
master
has
any
right
to
it
,
save
Stephen
.
'
'
It
's
no
use
wasting
breath
,
'
replied
William
Morris
.
'
The
master
says
he
's
bought
the
place
from
thy
grandfather
,
lass
;
and
he
agreed
to
turn
out
by
noon
on
Michaelmas
Day
.
Master
does
n't
want
to
be
hard
upon
you
;
and
he
says
,
if
you
've
no
place
to
turn
in
to
,
you
may
go
to
the
old
cabin
on
the
upper
cinder-hill
,
till
there
's
a
cottage
empty
in
Botfield
;
and
we
'll
help
thee
to
move
the
things
at
wunst
.
We
're
to
get
the
roof
off
and
the
walls
down
afore
nightfall
.
'
'
Grandfather
and
little
Nan
!
'
screamed
Martha
;
'
get
into
the
house
this
minute
!
It
's
no
use
you
men
coming
up
here
on
this
errand
.
You
know
grandfather
's
simple
,
and
he
has
n't
sold
the
house
;
how
could
he
?
He
's
no
more
sense
than
little
Nan
.
No
,
no
;
you
must
go
down
to
the
works
,
and
hear
what
Stephen
says
.
You
're
a
pack
of
rascals
,
every
one
of
you
,
and
the
master
's
the
biggest
;
and
you
'll
all
have
to
gnash
your
teeth
over
this
business
some
day
,
I
reckon
.
'
By
this
time
the
old
man
and
the
child
were
safely
within
the
house
;
and
Martha
,
springing
quickly
from
the
wicket
,
where
she
had
kept
the
men
at
bay
,
followed
them
in
,
and
barred
the
door
,
before
any
one
of
the
labourers
could
thrust
his
shoulder
in
to
prevent
her
.
They
held
a
consultation
together
when
they
found
that
no
arguments
prevailed
upon
her
to
open
to
them
,
to
which
Martha
listened
disdainfully
through
the
large
chinks
,
but
vouchsafed
no
answer
.
'
Come
,
come
,
my
lass
,
'
said
William
Morris
soothingly
;
'
it
's
lost
time
and
strength
,
thee
contending
with
the
master
.
I
do
n't
like
the
business
;
but
our
orders
are
clear
,
and
we
must
obey
them
.
Thee
let
us
in
,
and
we
'll
carry
the
things
down
to
the
cinder-hill
cabin
for
thee
.
If
thee
wo
n't
open
the
door
,
we
'll
be
forced
to
take
the
thatch
off
.
'
'
I
wo
n't
,
'
answered
Martha
,
—
'
not
for
the
lord
of
the
manor
himself
.
The
house
is
ours
,
and
I
'
ware
any
of
you
to
touch
it
.
Go
down
to
Stephen
and
hear
what
he
'll
say
.
If
thee
takes
the
thatch
off
,
thee
sha
n't
move
me
out
.
'
But
when
the
old
stove-pipe
,
through
which
the
last
breath
of
the
household
fire
had
passed
,
was
drawn
up
,
and
the
blue
sky
could
be
seen
through
the
cloud
of
dust
and
dirt
with
which
the
hut
was
filled
,
choking
the
helpless
old
man
and
the
frightened
child
,
Martha
's
courage
failed
her
;
and
she
went
out
,
with
little
Nan
clinging
round
her
,
and
spoke
as
calmly
to
the
invaders
as
her
rising
sobs
would
let
her
.
'
You
know
it
's
grandmother
's
own
house
,
'
she
said
;
'
and
the
lord
of
the
manor
himself
has
no
right
to
it
.
But
I
'll
go
down
and
fetch
Stephen
,
if
you
'll
only
wait
.
'
'
We
dare
n't
wait
,
Martha
,
'
answered
Morris
kindly
;
'
and
it
's
no
use
,
lass
;
the
master
's
too
many
for
thee
.
But
thee
go
down
to
Stephen
;
and
we
'll
move
the
things
safe
,
as
if
they
were
our
own
,
and
put
them
where
they
'll
not
be
broken
;
and
we
'll
take
care
of
little
Nan
and
thy
poor
old
grandfather
.
Tell
Stephen
we
're
desperately
cut
up
about
it
ourselves
;
but
,
if
we
had
n't
done
it
,
somebody
that
has
no
good-will
towards
him
would
have
taken
the
job
.
So
go
thy
poor
ways
with
thee
,
my
lass
;
we
are
main
sorry
for
thee
and
Stephen
.
'
The
hot
,
choking
smoke
from
the
limekiln
was
blowing
across
the
works
;
and
the
dusty
pit-bank
was
covered
with
busy
men
and
boys
and
girls
,
shouting
,
laughing
,
singing
,
and
swearing
,
when
Martha
arrived
at
Botfield
.
She
was
rarely
seen
at
the
pit
,
for
her
thrifty
and
housewifely
habits
kept
her
busy
at
Fern
's
Hollow
;
and
the
rough
,
loud
voices
of
the
banksmen
,
the
regular
beat
of
the
engine
,
the
clanking
of
chains
,
and
the
dust
and
smoke
and
heat
of
the
almost
strange
scene
bewildered
the
hillside
girl
.
She
made
her
way
to
the
cabin
,
a
little
hut
built
near
the
mouth
of
the
shaft
for
the
use
of
the
people
employed
about
the
pit
;
but
before
she
could
see
Tim
,
or
fix
upon
any
one
to
inquire
about
Stephen
from
,
a
girl
of
her
own
age
,
but
with
a
face
sunburnt
and
blackened
from
her
rough
and
unwomanly
work
,
and
in
an
uncouth
dress
of
sackcloth
,
which
was
grimed
with
coal-dust
,
came
up
and
peered
boldly
in
her
face
.
'
Why
,
it
's
Miss
Fern
!
'
she
cried
,
with
a
loud
laugh
;
'
Miss
Fern
,
Esq.
,
of
Fern
's
Hollow
,
come
to
learn
us
poor
pit-folk
scholarship
and
manners
.
Here
,
lads
!
here
's
Mr.
Stephen
Fern
's
fine
sister
,
as
knows
more
nor
all
of
us
put
together
.
Give
us
a
bit
of
your
learning
,
Miss
Fern
.
'
'
I
know
a
black-bess
when
I
see
one
,
'
replied
Martha
sharply
;
and
all
the
boys
and
girls
joined
in
a
ready
roar
of
merriment
against
Bess
Thompson
,
whose
nickname
was
the
common
country
name
for
a
beetle
.
'
That
'll
do
!
'
they
shouted
;
'
she
knows
a
black-bess
!
Thee
's
got
thy
answer
,
Bess
Thompson
.
'
'
What
's
brought
thee
to
the
pit
?
'
asked
Bess
fiercely
;
'
we
want
no
scatter-witted
hill
girls
here
,
I
can
tell
ye
.
So
get
off
the
pit-bank
,
afore
I
drive
thee
off
.
'
'
What
's
all
this
hullabaloo
?
'
inquired
Tim
,
making
his
appearance
at
the
cabin
door
.
'
Why
,
Martha
,
what
brings
thee
at
the
pit
?
Come
in
here
,
and
tell
me
what
's
up
now
.
'
Tim
listened
to
Martha
's
tearful
story
with
great
amazement
and
indignation
;
and
,
after
a
few
minutes
'
consideration
,
he
told
her
he
had
nothing
much
to
do
,
and
he
would
get
leave
to
take
Stephen
's
place
for
the
rest
of
the
day
,
so
as
to
set
him
free
to
go
home
at
once
.
He
left
her
standing
in
the
middle
of
the
cabin
,
for
the
rough
benches
round
it
looked
too
black
for
her
to
venture
to
take
a
seat
upon
them
;
and
in
a
short
time
he
shouted
to
her
from
a
skep
,
which
was
being
lowered
into
the
pit
,
promising
her
that
Stephen
should
come
up
as
soon
as
possible
.
It
seemed
a
terribly
long
time
to
wait
amid
that
noise
and
dust
,
and
every
now
and
then
Black
Bess
relieved
her
feelings
by
making
hideous
grimaces
at
her
when
she
passed
the
cabin
door
;
but
Stephen
ascended
at
last
,
very
stern-looking
and
silent
,
for
Tim
had
told
him
Martha
's
business
;
and
he
hurried
her
away
from
the
pit-bank
before
he
would
listen
to
the
detailed
account
she
was
longing
to
give
.
Even
when
they
were
in
the
lonely
lane
leading
homewards
,
and
she
was
talking
and
sobbing
herself
out
of
breath
,
he
walked
on
without
a
word
passing
his
lips
,
though
his
heart
was
sending
up
ceaseless
prayers
to
God
for
help
to
bear
this
trial
with
patience
.
Poor
old
home
!
There
was
all
the
well-used
household
furniture
carried
out
and
heaped
together
on
the
turf
,
—
chairs
and
tables
and
beds
,
—
looking
so
differently
to
what
they
did
when
arranged
in
their
proper
order
.
The
old
man
,
with
his
grey
head
uncovered
,
was
wandering
to
and
fro
in
sore
bewilderment
;
and
little
Nan
had
fallen
asleep
beside
the
furniture
,
with
the
trace
of
tears
upon
her
rosy
cheeks
.
But
the
house
was
almost
gone
.
The
door-sill
,
where
Stephen
had
so
often
seen
the
sun
go
down
as
he
rested
himself
from
his
labours
,
was
already
taken
up
;
the
old
grate
,
round
which
they
had
sat
all
the
winter
nights
that
he
had
ever
known
,
was
pulled
out
of
the
rock
;
and
all
the
floor
was
open
to
the
mocking
sunshine
.
It
is
a
mournful
thing
to
see
one
's
own
home
in
ruins
;
and
a
tear
or
two
made
a
white
channel
down
the
coal-dust
on
Stephen
's
cheeks
;
but
he
subdued
himself
,
and
spoke
out
to
the
labourers
like
a
man
.
'
I
know
it
's
not
your
fault
,
'
he
said
,
as
they
stood
round
him
,
making
explanations
and
excuses
;
'
but
you
know
grandfather
could
not
sell
the
place
.
I
'll
get
you
to
help
me
carry
the
things
down
to
the
cinder-hill
cabin
.
The
sheep
and
ponies
are
coming
down
the
hill
,
and
there
'll
be
rain
afore
long
;
and
it
's
not
fit
for
grandfather
and
little
Nan
to
be
out
in
it
.
You
'll
spare
time
from
the
work
for
that
?
'
'
Ay
,
will
we
!
'
cried
the
men
heartily
;
and
,
submitting
kindly
to
Stephen
's
quiet
directions
,
they
were
soon
laden
with
the
household
goods
,
which
were
scanty
and
easily
removed
.
Two
or
three
journeys
were
sufficient
to
take
them
all
;
and
when
the
labourers
returned
for
the
last
time
to
their
work
of
destruction
,
Stephen
took
little
Nan
in
his
arms
,
and
Martha
led
away
the
old
man
;
