folks like an angel of marcy, an' never sets foot onywhere but she puts a drop o' sunshine into t' day's work wi' her bonnie smile and her sweet tender ways; an' now that the trouble's on her, an' she can't lift her blessed head, the darlin,' ye come croakin' round and pickin' of her, 'cause she doesn't dress herself up and stand at bazaars, an' work her fingers to t' bone in sewin' at things as poor folks ought to be hired to do.

"Then says she to me, 'Mrs. Benn,' says she, as greasy like and shining, 'you're heated-you ain't a thinkin' o' what you're sayin'.

"Well, for t' matter o' that, I was heated, for I'd been washin' all day, an' I'd t' sheets to wring out myself, for Matthy yonder wi' his paral'sis, an' his shortness o' breath, an' his rhumatiz, ain't no more good at wringing out a sheet than a month-old babby. An' then I'd been a ironing of some starch things in that bit of a back kitchen of ours, nigh hand a fire hot enough to broil every bit o' patience out o' me, an' if all that isn't enough to heat a body I'd like to know what is. So says I to her, 'Miss Tim,' says I, 'it's

my opinion you've been heating yourself with something worse nor honest work, afore you'd come to other folk's houses, making sich ondacent remarks about our dear precious young leddy, an' its an onmannerly thing, too, for the likes o' you to do, as hasn't given a bite nor a sup to anybody in this parish as I knows on,'-an' she hasn't neither, Mrs. Brant, for she's as big a screw as you ever set eyes on to be after takin' the shine out of her as has allus been t' pride an' blessin' o' t' place.'

"Well, Mrs. Brant, wi' that she took and flung herself out o' t' door, without ever so much as sayin' good mornin' to ye, an' was off down t' lane like a shot, and she said summut about pleecemen, and bein' consulted in her manevolent bedeavours, or some such grand words, as I couldn't understand and wasn't goin' to try. I haven't common patience wi' sich like folks," and Polly's bonnet-ribbons flew about with renewed velocity, and she jerked out a fresh residue of crumbs into the fireplace.

"Polly, honey then, be a bit aisy now, can't ye?" said Matthew soothingly-"it's onseemly to

be givin' out agin' quality in sich a way; least said's soonest mended, honey.”

"Onseemly! was ye sayin', an' I'd like to know if it ain't kind o' unseemly for the like's of her to let on i' that way over Miss Maud? Ye may cringe to yer betters if ye like, but as long as I'se got a tongue i' my head, I'll stick up for the dear young leddy. And as for callin' sich like folks as her, quality, I'd just shut up all t rest o' my life, afore I'd demean myself to do ony sich thing- ould maids as comes into other folk's houses an' blackens their neighbours' characters, an' takes pot-lid off to fin' out what yer goin' to have for yer dinner, an pries round among t' cupboards, an' closets, an' places, a ferretin' out things as isn't no concern o' theirs, an' tellin' of ye to yer face as yer ain't good tempered enough, an' askin' if yer husband drinks, an' if yer childer goes to t' school, an' if yer get parish pay, an' if yer have t' clergyman come to see ye; and tellin' ye to keep yerself clean and tidy I'd like to see her keep herself clean an' tidy in that bit of a back kitchen of mine, wi' a week's wash to clear out o' t' way, an' t'

chimney reeking fit to smother ye, and an ould man like you to shake up whiles an' fix right and do for-sich talk! just as if you wouldn't do it if you could, without their takin' trouble to tell ye. An' then when they've gotten ivvery thing they want out on ye, an' spried round into all yer ways an' doin's, and yer just beginnin' to think as how they're goin' to give ye a bit o' summut solider nor advice, they wish ye a good morning, an' yer forced to drop a curtsey an' thank em-ugh! to call sich folks as them quality, catch me doin' ought o' t' sort. But, Matthy, we mun be setting off back, for I left bread in t' oven afore I came out, an' it 'll be as brown as yon stick o' yours afore I get to give it a turn. Good evening to ye, Mrs. Brant, an' I hope ye'll get safe landed t'other side o' yer trouble, and Miss Maud too, bless her!"

Polly Benn then proceeded to shake Matthew up. She smoothed his hair back, and fixed his hat on with a vigorous slap, set his coat straight, and whisked off the crumbs that had fallen upon it; then after giving an eye

round him to see that all was right, she fetched his stick and steered him safely through the kitchen, and across the back yard, and into Braeton lane, where she took him in tow, and swept him safely along home. Milly Dakin stayed a little while after, to make a few general remarks about its being unwomanly in her opinion to have so much talk; and then gently reminding her sturdy Vulcan that it was drawing on to supper, he gathered himself up, and they wished Mrs. Brant good-night, leaving the great kitchen looking dark and empty and deserted; the pan lids and dish covers gleaming white and ghost-like in the twilight, and a desolate eerie sort of silence creeping amongst the shadows, which made Martha throw her apron over her head again and begin to sigh vehemently.

"And now then, wench," she said to Sally after a pause, in which there was nothing to be heard but the ticking of the old clock on the stairs, and a crackling of cinders, as one by one they fell out of the dead fire, "now then, clear away that seed loaf, and side them mugs an' things off t' table, an' give it a dust down. I'm thankful I ain't a