eep the house clean, and do the cooking, and be a
drudge. How would you like that, pray?' he inquired.

'Lovely!' said Sarah with enthusiasm.

George looked at her curiously, with a half-amused expression. 'I only
hope you mayn't be put to the proof, but it wouldn't surprise me.
However, I mustn't stop here talking; I want to see the governor. I
suppose he's gone to the mills?'

'Yes; but I don't advise you to go there after him. You know he's always
in a worse humour in the morning than he is in the afternoon when he's
had some lunch. Wait and see him then. We might go down to the rink
father had made on purpose for Horatia. I think he'd have got her the
moon if she had asked for it,' observed Sarah.

George laughed. 'She was very nice to mother. By the way, if you really
want to skate, I'll go and tell her; she'd like to come down and watch
us, and the walk would do her good.'

'All right,' agreed Sarah, as her brother went off to fetch his mother.

'It was so kind o' your father to 'ave this floor laid. 'E's good enough
to people if they only take 'im the right way, only 'e mustn't be
crossed; 'e never 'as been. Oh deary me! w'at 'e'll do now that they've
crossed 'im in this business, I don't know. 'E says 'e'll best 'em yet,
for 'e's never been bested by any man, an' doesn't mean to be,' said Mrs
Clay as she walked along, clinging to her son's arm.

'I dare say he'll calm down in a day or two. It is very irritating. He
can't "best" the law, as he calls it,' said George in a soothing tone.

'Well, there's no fear o' 'is goin' against the law, for 'e doesn't 'old
wi' that,' said Mrs Clay.

'Then we may console ourselves that his "besting" will be legal, in which
case no harm will come of it,' said George with a smile, as, having put
his skates on, he gave his hand to his sister and took her for a round.

Mrs Clay sat on the raised stand, and watched the two as they skated
round and round, doing all sorts of figures, and performing rinking feats
for her special benefit, as she was well aware.

'Beautiful, my dears--beautiful! But, oh, do be careful! Suppose you were
to fall an' break your pretty noses or legs, or anythin'!' she ejaculated
at intervals.

The two skaters laughed heartily at this last remark. 'I believe you
would care more about our noses than our legs, mother,' said Sarah,
'though they aren't half so important.'

'There's nothin' so important to a woman as good looks--except bein'
good,' s