I come of thieves or honest folk; but what
I want to know from her is, why her lass dropped the butter and took to
her heels at a word?"

"Now, my good Jael," said the Squire, "if you are going to interfere
every time you catch my servants pilfering, you will have a hard time
of it. However, zeal is too rare a thing for me to discourage it. I must
make an example. Hy, you young woman: I dare say you are no worse than
the rest, but you are the one that is found out; so you must pack up
your clothes and begone."

"Not without a month's warning, or a month's wage, sir, it you please,"
said the dairymaid, pertly.

"If I catch you in the house when I come down, I'll send you to prison
on my own warrant, with the butter tied round your neck."

At this direful threat the offender began to blubber, and speedily
disappeared to pack her box.

Mr. Raby then told the other servants that Jael Dence was the new
housekeeper, and that a person of her character was evidently required
in the house; they must all treat her with respect, or leave his
service. Thereupon two gave warning, and Mr. Raby, who never kept a
servant a day after that servant had given him warning, had them up to
his room, and paid them a month's wages. "And now," said he, "for the
honor of the house, don't leave us fasting, but eat a good breakfast,
and then go to the devil."

At his own breakfast he related the incident to Dr. Amboyne, with a
characteristic comment: "And the fools say there is nothing in race. So
likely, that of all animals man alone should be exempt from the law
of nature! Take a drowning watch-dog out of the water and put him in a
strange house, he is scarcely dry before he sets to work to protect it.
Take a drowning Dence into your house, and she is up with the lark to
look after your interests. That girl connive and let the man be robbed
whose roof shelters her? She COULDN'T; it is not in her blood. I'm
afraid there's to be a crusade against petty larceny in this house,
and more row about it than it is worth. No matter; I shall support the
crusader, on principle. It is not for me to check honest impulses, nor
to fight against nature in almost the only thing where she commands my
respect."

"Very well," said the doctor, "that is settled: so now let us talk of
something more important. How are we to get your sister, in her delicate
state, from Wales to this place?"

"Why, I will go for her myself, to be sure."

"Raby, your heart is