like—ill-satisfied wi' a washin'-day dinner! Nay, nay, I'd sooner bide as I am wi' nobbut mysel' to look to." 

 Ted threw back his head and coughed behind his hand, nonplussed for the moment; presently, noting that the practical side of the case was the only one likely to meet with favour, he resumed artfully—"Think how coomfortable it 'ud be of a rainy day, i'stead o' startin' out i' th' wet to feed pig an' do for chickens, to say to your gaffer, 'Sitha, thou mun see to they things afore thou goes to thy wark'—an' of an evening, when he' coom awhoam, ye could set him to get th' 'taters, an' chop wood an' that." 

 Margaret crossed her arms and appeared to reflect. 

 "An' of a Saturday—pay day, ye know—ye'd jest say: 'Hand o'er, wilto?' An' he'd hand o'er." 

 A faint smile began to play about the lady's lips; she leaned back in her chair and looked attentively at Ted. 

 "'Tisn't everybody as 'ud be willin' to do that," she remarked after a pause; "theer's a mony as 'ud sooner spend their brass at th' Thornleigh Arms." 

 Ted privately thought this extremely likely, but he assumed an air of virtuous indignation. 

 "Theer's chaps an' chaps! I reckon if onybody was to ax to wed you, Miss Heptonstall, he'd be a steady-goin' sort o' fellow as wouldn't be up to they mak' o' games." 

 Margaret smiled outright. Ted thought he would follow up his advantage and clinch the point at once. 

 "Now, Miss Heptonstall," said he, "for instance, if I was to coom coortin' ye, I wouldn't be thinkin' of onything but makkin' ye coomfortable. I reckon ye'd mak'  me coomfortable"—(with an air of great fairness and impartiality)—"that's wheer 'tis; it 'ud be 'give an' take, give an' take.' I feel dreadful lonely of an evenin', an' it's a sad thing when a man allus has to do for hissel'. I'd be thankful if ye'd have me—" 

 "I reckon ye would," interrupted Margaret with disconcerting frankness; "I've a good bit o' brass saved." 

 This was news to Ted, and he looked at her with genuine interest. 

 "Have ye?" said he. "I raly didn't know. Well, I'm doin' pratty well too, an' I've got a nice little place—" 

 "Nay," put in Margaret, "it isn't mich of a place; this here's twice th' size, an' a dale coomfortabler. Nay, if we was to 

 Prev. P 44/202 next