ipped the very
ground she walked on, as they say. And, oh, yes, she had great, great
influence with him, and he would do anything in the wide world to
please her.

"That'll do," whispered Jacob over his shoulder, as the little maid
tripped away to inform her mistress. "I'll give that girl a shilling
when she comes again," he added.

"And give her another for me," said Stean.

"And me," said Asher.

"Seeing that I've no land at home now I wouldn't mind staying here
when you all go back," said Jacob.

"I'll sell you mine, Jacob," said Thurstan.

The maid returned to ask them to follow, and they went after her,
stroking their lank hair smooth on their foreheads, and studying the
remains of the snow on their boots. When they came to the door of the
room where they were to meet with Greeba, Jacob whispered to the
little maid, "I'll give you a crown when I come out again." Then he
twisted his face over his shoulder and said: "Do as I do; d'ye hear?"

"_Isn't_ he a boy?" chuckled Gentleman John.

Then into the room they passed, one by one, all six in file. Greeba
was standing by a table, erect, quivering, with flashing eyes, and
the old trembling on both sides her heart. Jacob and John instantly
went down on one knee before her, and their four lumbering brethren
behind made shift to do the same.

"So we have found you at last, thank God," said Jacob, in a mighty
burst of fervor.

"Thank God, thank God," the others echoed.

"Ah, Greeba," said Jacob, in a tone of sorrowful reproach, "why ever
did you go way without warning, and leave us all so racked with
suspense? You little knew how you grieved us, seeming to slight our
love and kindness towards you----"

"Stop," said Greeba. "I know too well what your love and kindness
have been to me. Why have you come?"

"Don't say that," said Jacob, sadly, "for see what we have made free
to fetch you--six hundred pound," he added, lugging a bag and a roll
of paper out of his pocket.

"Six hundred golden pounds," repeated the others.

"It's your share of Lague--your full share, Greeba, woman," said
Jacob, deliberately, "and every penny of it is yours. So take it, and
may it bring you a blessing, Greeba. And don't think unkind of us
because we have held it back until now, for we kept it from you for
your own good, seeing plain there was someone harking after you for
sake of what you had, and fearing your good money would thereby fall
into evil hands, and you be made poor