f much value will grow there." I thought, "There's them
Jacob's ladders; I'll put them there, since they can't do harm in such a
place;" and I planted the Jacob's ladders sure enough. They growed, and
they growed, in the mixen and out of the mixen, all over the litter,
covering it quite up. When John wanted to use it about the garden, 'a
said, "Nation seize them Jacob's ladders of yours, Maria! They've eat
the goodness out of every morsel of my manure, so that 'tis no better
than sand itself!" Sure enough the hungry mortals had. 'Tis my belief
that in the secret souls o' 'em, Jacob's ladders be weeds, and not
flowers at all, if the truth was known.'

Robert Lickpan, pig-killer and carrier, arrived at this moment. The
fatted animal hanging in the back kitchen was cleft down the middle of
its backbone, Mrs. Smith being meanwhile engaged in cooking supper.

Between the cutting and chopping, ale was handed round, and Worm and
the pig-killer listened to John Smith's description of the meeting with
Stephen, with eyes blankly fixed upon the table-cloth, in order that
nothing in the external world should interrupt their efforts to conjure
up the scene correctly.

Stephen came downstairs in the middle of the story, and after the little
interruption occasioned by his entrance and welcome, the narrative was
again continued, precisely as if he had not been there at all, and
was told inclusively to him, as to somebody who knew nothing about the
matter.

'"Ay," I said, as I catched sight o' en through the brimbles, "that's
the lad, for I d' know en by his grand-father's walk;" for 'a stapped
out like poor father for all the world. Still there was a touch o' the
frisky that set me wondering. 'A got closer, and I said, "That's the
lad, for I d' know en by his carrying a black case like a travelling
man." Still, a road is common to all the world, and there be more
travelling men than one. But I kept my eye cocked, and I said to Martin,
"'Tis the boy, now, for I d' know en by the wold twirl o' the stick and
the family step." Then 'a come closer, and a' said, "All right." I could
swear to en then.'

Stephen's personal appearance was next criticised.

'He d' look a deal thinner in face, surely, than when I seed en at the
parson's, and never knowed en, if ye'll believe me,' said Martin.

'Ay, there,' said another, without removing his eyes from Stephen's
face, 'I should ha' knowed en anywhere. 'Tis his father's nose to a T.'

'It h