treated him with a deference shown to no other he could think of no subject demanding the secrecy Molly’s manner had seemed to ask.

He did not fail to be early at the Hanging Gate, indeed Mrs. Schofield, her wonted serenity restored by an afternoon’s nap on the settle, had but just sided the tea-things, after that meal which is locally called a “baggin’”—(another term whose origin is shrouded in mystery) and was still in the sacred retreat upstairs, where she was accustomed to array herself as beseemeth the landlady of a thriving hostelry, with money in the bank, and that could change her condition by holding up her little finger.

Molly no longer held the child in her arms. It had been transferred into the highly polished mahogany cradle, which Molly worked gently with her foot, and which also had doubtless been purchased for the use of that disappointing Benny.

“Eh! Aw’m glad yo’n come,” she said eagerly, as Mr. Black removed his wraps. “Speak low, th’ missis is upstairs, an’ these rafters is like sounding boards.”

She thrust her hand deep into one of those long linen pockets beneath the upper gown and that only a woman can find.

“Here tak’ it,” she said, “tak’ it. It’s welly burned a hoil i’ mi pocket. Dunnot let me han’le it again or aw’ll nooan answer for missen. It’s gowd, man, gowd, aw tell yo’ an’ there’s figgerin on it i’ some mak o’ stones at glitter an’ dazzle till yo’d think the varry devil wer’ winkin’ at yo’, an whisperin’ i’ yo’r lug to keep it quiet an’ say nowt to nobody.”

She placed a trinket in the schoolmaster’s hand and heaved a sigh of relief. It was a locket of gold, heart-shaped. On the one side was worked, in small diamonds, a true-lovers’ knot, on the reverse, in pearls, a monogram.

A.J.

The like neither dominie nor nurse had ever gazed upon before, save, perhaps, through the tantalizing barrier of a jeweller’s window in Huddersfield or Manchester, and, it is safe to say, never before had either held in hand article of so much value.

“Yo’ know aw helped to put her to bed,” whispered Molly, with a motion of head towards the best bedroom, “an’ aw undressed her, an’ when th’ missis wer’ airin’ a neet-gown for th’ poor thing aw’ spied that teed round her neck wi’ a bit o’ velvet. So aw’ snipped it off, for aw seed weel enough oo’d nivver want it again. Aw’d meant to keep it till aw could mak it i’ my way to go daan to Huddersfilt; but aw 

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