ts of Englebourn; and until lately no one had taken a
keener interest in it than Harry Winburn. But that interest had
now much abated, and so Harry looked through the cottage door,
instead of answering his mother.

"'Tis my belief as you med amost hev it for the axin'." Dame
Winburn began again when she found that he would not re-open the
subject himself. "The young missus said as much to me herself
last night. Ah! to be sure, things'd go better if she had the
guidin' on 'em."

"I'm not going after it any more, mother. We can keep the bits o'
sticks here together without it while you be alive; and if
anything was to happen to you, I don't think I should stay in
these parts. But it don't matter what becomes o' me; I can earn a
livelihood anywhere."

Dame Winburn paused a moment before answering to subdue her
vexation, and then said, "How can 'ee let hankerin' arter a lass
take the heart out o' thee so? Hold up thy head, and act a bit
measterful. The more thow makest o' thyself, the more like thou
art to win."

"Did you hear aught of her last night, mother?" replied Harry,
taking advantage of this ungracious opening to speak of the
subject which was uppermost in his mind.

"I heer'd she wur goin' on well," said his mother.

"No likelihood of her comin' home?"

"Not as I could make out. Why, she hevn't been gone not four
months. Now, do 'ee pluck up a bit, Harry; and be more like
thyself."

"Why, mother, I've not missed a day's work since Christmas; so
there ain't much to find fault with."

"Nay, Harry, 'tisn't thy work. Thou wert always good at thy work,
praise God. Thou'rt thy father's own son for that. But thou
dostn't keep about like, and take thy place wi' the lave on 'em
since Christmas. Thou look'st hagged at times, and folk'll see't,
and talk about thee afore long."

"Let 'em talk. I mind their talk no more than last year's wind,"
said Harry, abruptly.

"But thy old mother does," she said, looking at him with eyes
full of pride and love; and so Harry, who was a right good son,
began to inquire what it was that was specially weighing on his
mother's mind, determined to do anything in reason to re-place
her on the little harmless social pinnacle from which she was
wont to look down on all the other mothers and sons of the
parish. He soon found out that her present grievance arose from
his having neglected his place as ringer of the heavy bell in the
village peal on the two preceding Sundays; and, as