l they were quite tightly shut.

"Oh, no," he said at last. "It would be a game, but,"--he began to rub
himself gently with both hands--"the very thought of it makes me feel as
if my ribs were sore. He was such a weight."

"Yes, we mustn't play any more tricks; he's such a good chap. But about
old Boil O--I don't like his turning so queer. He went on at me like a
madman--I felt half frightened--said all sorts of things."

"What sort of things?"

"Oh, that father imposed upon him because he was a poor man, and set him
to do all kinds of dirty jobs about the place because he was willing.
Said he'd repent it some day. When you know father picks out those jobs
for him because he's such a clever old chap and does the things better
than the clumsy workmen from the town. But as for imposing upon him,"
said the boy, proudly, "father would not impose upon anybody."

"No, that he wouldn't. My father says he's the most noble-hearted,
generous man he ever knew; he's always ready to put his hand in his
pocket for the poor."

"So he is," cried Will. "Impose! Why, do you know what he pays old
Boil O every week?"

"No."

"Then I shan't tell you, because that's all private; but just twice as
much as he pays any of the other men."

"And he has that cottage rent-free, hasn't he?"

"Yes, and Mrs Drinkwater makes a lot every year by letting her rooms to
the artists who come down. She charges just what she likes, and the
people are glad to pay it, because it's such a nice place, and Mrs
Waters makes them so comfortable. Why, look at old Bad Manners--this is
the third year he's been down to stay a couple of months. Now what has
old Boil O got to grumble about."

"Nothing," said Josh; "only against himself. My father says that he was
born in a bad temper. Why, he won't even say `Good-morning' sometimes,
only gives you a surly scowl or a snap as if he were going to bite."

"`Let dogs delight to bark and bite, for 'tis their nature to'--that's
poetry. Hollo! What's the matter now?"

The two lads looked sharply round in the direction of the mill-yard,
from whence a loud, strident voice was heard, saying something in angry
tones, which rose at last to a passionate outburst, drowning the deep
voice of someone responding, and echoing strangely from the high,
cliff-like walls above the picturesque old mill.

"It's old Drink in one of his fits," said Josh. "Come on; let's see
what's the matter."

Will had already st