let your father
go. God knows I have few enough true friends, and I cannot spare him and
you; and as for Bill Swinton, he would break his heart if you went."

"Bill's only a boy; he will get over it," Polly said in a careless tone,
but with a bright flush upon her cheek.

"He is nearly as old as you are, Polly, and he is one of the best
fellows in the world. I know he's not your equal in education, but a
steadier, better fellow, never was."

Mary made no reply, and in another minute the two set out together for
Varley. In spite of Ned's confident assurance that he would appease
Luke's anger, Mary was frightened when, as they entered the cottage, she
saw Luke standing moodily in front of the fire.

"Oi expected this," he said in a tone of deep bitterness. "Oi were a
fool vor to think as you war different to other gals, and that you would
give up your own wishes to your feyther's."

"Oh, feyther!" Polly cried, "don't speak so to me. Beat me if you like,
I deserve to be beaten, but don't speak to me like that. I am ready to
go anywhere you like, and to be a good daughter to you; forgive me for
this once disobeying you."

"Luke, old friend," Ned said earnestly, putting his hand on the
cropper's shoulder, "don't be angry with Polly, she has done me a great
service. I have learned the truth, and know what you meant now by a life
for a life. You were going to sacrifice yourself for me. You were going
to take upon yourself a crime which you never committed to clear me. You
went to York to declare yourself the murderer of Mulready, in case I had
been found guilty. You were going to emigrate to America to send home a
written confession."

"Who says as how oi didn't kill Foxey?" Luke said doggedly. "If oi
choose to give myself oop now who is to gainsay me?"

"Mary and Bill can both gainsay you," Ned said. "They can prove that you
did not stir out of the house that night. Come, Luke, it's of no use.
I feel with all my heart grateful to you for the sacrifice you were
willing to make for me. I thank you as deeply and as heartily as if you
had made it. It was a grand act of self sacrifice, and you must not be
vexed with Polly that she has prevented you carrying it out. It would
have made me very unhappy had she not done so. When I found that you
were gone I should certainly have got out from Bill the truth of the
matter, and when your confession came home I should have been in a
position to prove that you had only made it to