, no," sighed Martha, "that isn't the one."

"That it is," cried Bruff, sturdily. "I'm sure on it. Look 'Liza."

The apron was slowly drawn away from the girl's white face and she fixed
her eyes on the hollow cinder, but full of doubt.

"It is. Hark!" cried Bruff, and he shook the cinder close to Eliza's
ear. "Can't you hear?"

"It does tinkle," she said. "But are you sure that's the one?"

"Of course I am, and it's a sign as he'll get well again, and be rich
and happy."

"No, no; that isn't the one, that isn't the one," sobbed Martha.

"Tell you it is," cried Bruff so fiercely that the cook doubtingly took
the piece of cinder, shook it, and by degrees a smile spread over her
countenance and she rose and put the scrap on the chimney-piece between
two bright brass candlesticks.

"For luck," she said; and this time she wiped her eyes dry and examined
a saucepan of beef tea which she had stewed down. "In case it's
wanted," she said confidentially, though there was not the slightest
likelihood thereof for some time to come.

"Well," said Bruff at last, "I suppose I had better go out to work."

But he only looked out of the kitchen window at the garden and shook his
head.

"Don't seem to hev no 'art in it," he said, looking from one to the
other, as if this were quite a new condition for him to be in. "Seems
to miss him so, and look wheer you will theer's a something as puts you
in mind of him. Well, all I says is this, and both of you may hear it,
only let him get well and he may do any mortal thing in my garden, and I
won't complain."

Bruff took up his mug, looked inside it, and set it down again with a
frown.

"My missus is coming up to see if she can do owt for you 's afternoon."

"Ah!" sighed cook, "you never know what neighbours is till you're in
trouble, 'Liza."

"No."

"Go up, soft like, and ask missus if I may send her a cup o' tea."

"No," said Eliza, decisively; "pour one out and I'll take it up. And I
say, dear, you know what a one master is for it; why don't you send him
up the little covered basin o' beef tea. There, I'll go and put a
napkin over a tray."

Perhaps it was due to being called "dear," perhaps to the fact there was
an outlet for the strong beef tea she had so carefully prepared; at any
rate Martha smiled and went to the cupboard for the pepper, and then to
the salt-box, to season the beef tea according to her taste.

Five minutes later the tray was borne up with t