stood at th’ bottom o’ th’ stairs when yo’ wer prayin’ yesterday, an’ oh, Mr. Black, it wor’ a tussle, but aw couldna keep it, aw couldna keep it after that.”

Mr. Black was much moved. He took Molly’s hand in his and bowed over it. “You are a good woman Molly, and One who seeth in secret will reward you openly.”

“Dunnot tell th’ misses,” urged Molly, flushing even through the tan of her hard face at a tribute seldom paid to her. “Oo’ll mebbe think aw sud ha’ gien it to her; an’ though aw’ve no patience wi’ her airs an’ her greetin’ (crying) an’ settin her cap at’s aboon her, thof poor they may be, but still oo’s reet at t’core, an awd be sorry to fa’ out wi’ her.”

Mr. Black nodded, and carefully placed the locket in the pocket of his vest.

“I must think over this. I don’t like secrets; but you shall go harmless. This trinket, valuable as it doubtless is of itself, may be more precious still as a clue to that poor child’s parentage and I must take counsel with Mr Redfearn.”

Molly shook her head in emphatic dissent.

“You wrong Fairbanks, indeed you do, Molly.”

“Ah, yo’ ken, yo’ ken,” said Molly, brokenly, “who but Fairbanks ruined my young life?”

“And hath he not repented and would have made amends? As you stand in need of forgiveness, Molly, learn to forgive. ’Tis a lesson we all must learn.”

The entrance of Redfearn himself precluded the further discussion of a delicate and painful subject. Molly assumed with some difficulty the control of her features, but there was lacking, for a time at least, that resentful defiance and general contrariness his presence seemed generally to arouse. Drawing back into the shade of her favourite corner she devoted herself to the assiduous care of the cradle, whilst Mrs. Schofield, now resplendent in her evening finery of black silk, with massive gold brooch and long gold watch chain that reached in double folds from neck to waist, with her own fair hand decocted the soothing compound demanded by the master of Fairbanks, nor disdained to pump the humming ale that was the nectar of the attendant herdsman.

“Well, Aleck, tha wer’ tellin’ me,” said Redfearn, “tha’s seen Mr. Whitelock an’ th’ sexton an’ th’ undertaker, an’ all’s arranged?”

Aleck made no reply till he had lowered the pewter two-handled quart 

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