them, and stolen them.
Down came bran-new bands to the wheel directly, and better than we had
lost. And my cousin Godby, that has a water-wheel, was rattened, by his
scythe-blades being flung in the dam. He squared with Mary Anne, and
then he got a letter to say where the blades were. But one was missing.
He complained to Mr. Grotait here, and Mr. Grotait put his hand in his
pocket directly, and paid the trade-price of the blade--three shillings,
I think it was."

"Yes," said Grotait; "'but,' I remember I said at the time, 'you must
not construe this that I was any way connected with the rattening.' But
some are deaf to reason. Hallo!"

"What is the matter, sir?"

"Why, what is that in the fender? Your eyes are younger than mine."

And Mr. Grotait put up his gold double eyeglass, and looked with marked
surprise and curiosity, at a note that lay in the fender.

Mr. Bayne had been present at similar comedies, and was not polite
enough to indorse Mr. Grotait's surprise. He said, coolly, "It will be
the identical note we are waiting for." He stooped down and took it out
of the fender, and read it.

"'To Mr. LITTLE, or MR. BAYNE.

"'GENTLEMEN,--In the bottom hull turn up the horsing, and in the
trough all the missing bands will be found. Apologizing for the little
interruption, it is satisfactory things are all arranged without damage,
and hope all will go agreeably when the rough edge is worn off. Trusting
these nocturnal visits will be no longer necessary, I remain,

"'THE SHY MAIDEN.'"

As soon as he had obtained this information, Bayne bustled off; but Mary
Anne detained Henry Little, to moralize.

Said she, "This rattening for trade contributions is the result of bad
and partial laws. If A contracts with B, and breaks his contract, B
has no need to ratten A: he can sue him. But if A, being a workman,
contracts with B and all the other letters, and breaks his contract,
B and all the other letters have no legal remedy. This bad and partial
law, occurring in a country that has tasted impartial laws, revolts
common sense and the consciences of men. Whenever this sort of thing
occurs in any civilized country, up starts that pioneer judge we call
Judge Lynch; in other words, private men combine, and make their
own laws, to cure the folly of legislatures. And, mark me, if these
irregular laws are unjust, they fail; if they are just, they
stand. Rattening could never have stood its ground so many years in
Hills