re
not very alarming. Also in Hatton town the people relied on the Master
of Hatton. They told themselves he was doing all that could be done to
ward off evil and they trusted in him. And no one foresaw as yet how
long the struggle would last. So Harry Hatton's return to the home
county and neighborhood was full of interest. He was their favorite and
their friend, and he had been long enough away to blot out any memory of
his faults; and indeed a fault connected with horses calls forth from
Yorkshiremen ready excuse and forgiveness. As to the mill, few of its
workers blamed him for hating it. They hated it also and would have
preferred some other out-door employment. So Harry's return was far more
interesting than the supply of cotton, and then England might do this
and that and perhaps France might interfere. That wide, slippery word
"perhaps" led them into many delusive suppositions.

Very nearly three weeks after John left him in London, Harry announced
his purpose of being in Yoden the following afternoon. He said his
furniture and trunks had arrived there three days previously, having
gone to Yoden by railway. In the afternoon John went up the hill to tell
his mother and found her thoroughly aware of all Harry's plans.

"I went to Yoden, John, a week ago," she said, "to hire men to meet the
furniture and take it to the house. Well, I can tell you I was a bit
amazed to find there had been a lot of workmen there for more than two
weeks--paperers, painters, decorators and upholsterers. I thought you
had sent them to Yoden."

"Not I! Not one of them. Did you think I could be so wicked? I want
every penny I can touch for cotton."

"Wicked or not, the men were there. They were not men of this side of
England either. I asked who sent them to Yoden, and one of them told me
they came from Sandfords', Bond Street, London. I dare say Harry sent
them."

"Then I fear Harry must pay for it. It is a bad time for him to be
extravagant."

"Well then, if Harry can't pay, I can. Don't thee be cross with the poor
lad. He hesn't found life very pleasant so far and now that a bit of
pleasure comes into it, he's right to make the most of it."

"All shall be as you wish, mother. Will you meet them tomorrow
afternoon?"

"Nay, I know better. Lucy will be worn out, dusty and hungry, and she'll
thank nobody for bothering her, until she is rested. I'll go early next
morning. Lucy knows there is a time to call and a time to bide at ho