s Gentles had made several allusions to how long "the
mester" was "wi' they boots," he came in, limping slightly, and after
closing the door dropped them on the brick floor.

"Why, Sam!" exclaimed Mrs Gentles, "I'd be ashamed o' mysen--that I
would!"

But Gentles did not seem to be in the slightest degree ashamed of
himself, but took his pipe from the shelf, where his wife had laid it,
struck a match, relit it, and went off with his hands in his pockets.

Mrs Gentles rose and followed him to the door, and then returned, with
her lips tightened and an angry look in her face.

"Now he's gone off to booblic," she said angrily, "to hatch up and mess
about and contrive all sorts o' mischief wi' them as leads him on. Oh
the times I've telled him as they might make up all the differ by
spending the time in work that they do in striking again' a sixpence
took off or to get one putt on! Ay, but we missuses have but a sorry
time!"

The absence of Gentles' furtive look sent back at me from the door
seemed to change the effect of his wife's voice, which by degrees grew
soothing and soft, and soon after I dropped off asleep, and dreamed of a
curious clinking going on, from which dream I awoke, with my head
cooler, and Mrs Gentles bending over me and fanning my face with what
looked like an old copy-book.

I looked at her wonderingly.

"That's better," she said. "Now set up and I'll help thee dress; and
here's a nice cup of tea ready."

"Oh, thank you!" I said. "What time is it?"

"Close upon five, and I thowt you'd be better now after some tea."

She helped me on with my jacket, and I winced with pain, I was so stiff
and sore. After this she insisted upon putting on my boots.

"Just as if I heven't done such things hundreds of times," she said
cheerfully. "Why, I used to put on the mester's and tak 'em off all the
time his leg was bad."

"I'm sorry I set that trap," I said, looking up at her rough, pleasant
face, and wondering how such a sneaking, malignant fellow could have won
so good a wife.

"I'm not," she said laughing. "It sarved him right, so say no more
about it."

That tea was like nectar, and seemed to clear my head, so that I felt
nearly recovered save when I tried to rise, and then I was in a good
deal of pain. But I deemed myself equal to going, and was about to
start when I missed my cap.

"Hey, but that'll be gone," she said. "Oh, they boys! Well, yow must
hev Dick's."

Before I could