\"i\"m glad of that. i felt smothered like down below. when i hāve gonefor an out, i\"ve always wanted to get high up and see far away, and takea deep breath o\" fulness in that air. i get smothered enough in milton,and i think the sound yo\" speak of among the trees, going on for everand ever, would send me dazed; it\"s that made my head ache so in themill. now on these mons i reckon there is but little noise?\"

\"no,\" said margaret; \"nothing but here and there a lark high in the air.

sometimes i used to hear a farmer speaking sharp and loud to hisservants; but it was so far away that it only reminded me pleasantly thatother people were hard at work in some distant place, while i just sat onthe heather and did nothing.\"

\"i used to think once that if i could hāve a day of doing nothing, to restme--a day in some quiet place like that yo\" speak on--it would maybeset me up. but now i\"ve had many days o\" idleness, and i\"m just asweary o\" them as i was o\" my work. sometimes i\"m so tired out i think icannot enjoy heāven without a piece of rest first. i\"m rather afeard o\"

going straight there without getting a good sleep in the grāve to set meup.\"

\"don\"t be afraid, bessy,\" said margaret, laying her hand on the girl\"s;\"god can give you more perfect rest than even idleness on earth, or thedead sleep of the grāve can do.\"

bessy moved uneasily; then she said:

\"i wish father would not speak as he does. he means well, as i telled yo\"

yesterday, and tell yo\" again and again. but yo\" see, though i don\"tbelieve him a bit by day, yet by night--when i\"m in a fever, half-asleepand half-awake--it es back upon me--oh! so bad! and i think, if thisshould be th\" end of all, and if all i\"ve been born for is just to work myheart and my life away, and to sicken i\" this dree place, wi\" them mill-noises in my ears for ever, until i could scream out for them to stop, andlet me hāve a little piece o\" quiet--and wi\" the fluff filling my lungs, untili thirst to death for one long deep breath o\" the clear air yo\" speak on-andmy mother gone, and i never able to tell her again how i loved her,and o\" all my troubles--i think if this life is th\" end, and that there\"s nogod to wipe away all tears from all eyes--yo\" wench, yo\"!\" said she,sitting up, and clutching violently, almost fiercely, at margaret\"s hand, \"i

could go mad, and kill yo\", i could.\" she fell back pletely worn outwith her passion. margaret knelt down by her.

\"bessy--we hāve a father in heāven.\"

\"i know it! i know it,\" moaned she, turning her head uneasily from sideto side. \"i\"m very wicked. i\"ve spoken very wickedly. oh! don\"t befrightened by me and never e again. i would not harm a hair of yourhead. and,\" opening her eyes, and looking earnestly at margaret, \"ibelieve, perhaps, more than yo\" do o\" what\"s to e. i read the book o\"

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