higgins. i am sure you are tired, if you\"ve been out much this wetrelaxing day. margaret, my dear, can\"t you hasten tea?\"

margaret could only hasten tea by taking the preparation of it into herown hands, and so offending dixon, who was emerging out of hersorrow for her late mistress into a very touchy, irritable state. butmartha, like all who came in contact with margaret--even dixonherself, in the long run--felt it a pleasure and an honour to forward anyof her wishes; and her readiness, and margaret\"s sweet forbearance,soon made dixon ashamed of herself.

\"why master and you must always be asking the lower classes up-stairs,since we came to milton, i cannot understand. folk at helstone werenever brought higher than the kitchen; and i\"ve let one or two of themknow before now that they might think it an honour to be even there.\"

higgins found it easier to unburden himself to one than to two. aftermargaret left the room, he went to the door and assured himself that itwas shut. then he came and stood close to mr. hale.

\"master,\" said he, \"yo\"d not guess easy what i\"ve been tramping after today.

special if yo\" remember my manner o\" talk yesterday. i\"ve been aseeking work. i hāve\" said he. \"i said to mysel\", i\"d keep a civil tongue inmy head, let who would say what \"em would. i\"d set my teeth into mytongue sooner nor speak i\" haste. for that man\"s sake--yo\" understand,\"

jerking his thumb back in some unknown direction.

\"no, i don\"t,\" said mr. hale, seeing he waited for some kind of assent,and pletely bewildered as to who \"that man\" could be.

\"that chap as lies theer,\" said he, with another jerk. \"him as went anddrownded himself, poor chap! i did na\" think he\"d got it in him to lie stilland let th\" water creep o\"er him till he died. boucher, yo\" know.\"

\"yes, i know now,\" said mr. hale. \"go back to what you were saying:

you\"d not speak in haste----\"

\"for his sake. yet not for his sake; for where\"er he is, and whate\"er, he\"llne\"er know other clemming or cold again; but for the wife\"s sake, andthe bits o\" childer.\"

\"god bless you!\" said mr. hale, starting up; then, calming down, he saidbreathlessly, \"what do you mean? tell me out.\"

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