ain."

"His father held under us for many years. He was a thoroughly honest
man, and paid his rent as often as he could. Would Jack like to have his
father's farm? It has been let to his cousin, as you know; but they have
been going from bad to worse; and everything must be sold off, unless I
stop it."

Sally was of dark Lancastrian race, with handsome features and fine
brown eyes. She had been a beauty ten years ago, and could still look
comely, when her heart was up.

"My lady," she said, with her heart up now, at the hope of soon having
a home of her own, and something to work for that she might keep, "such
words should not pass the mouth wi'out bin meant."

What she said was very different in sound, and not to be rendered in
echo by any one born far away from that country, where three dialects
meet and find it hard to guess what each of the others is up to.
Enough that this is what Sally meant to say, and that Mistress Yordas
understood it.

"It is not my custom to say a thing without meaning it," she answered;
"but unless it is taken up at once, it is likely to come to nothing.
Where is your man Jack?"

"Jack is awaa to the minister to tell of us cooming tegither." Sally
made no blush over this, as she might have done ten years ago.

"He must be an excellent and faithful man. He shall have the farm if he
wishes it, and can give some security at going in. Let him come and see
Jordas tomorrow."

After a few more words, the lady left Sally full of gratitude, very
little of which was expressed aloud, and therefore the whole was more
likely to work, as Mistress Yordas knew right well.

The farm was a better one than Wallhead, having some good barley land
upon it; and Jack did not fail to present himself at Scargate upon the
following morning. But the lady of the house did not think fit herself
to hold discourse with him. Jordas was bidden to entertain him, and find
out how he stood in cash, and whether his character was solid; and then
to leave him with a jug of ale, and come and report proceedings. The
dogman discharged this duty well, being as faithful as the dogs he kept,
and as keen a judge of human nature.

"The man hath no harm in him," he said, touching his hair to the ladies,
as he entered the audit-room. "A' hath been knocked aboot a bit in them
wars i' Injury, and hath only one hand left; but a' can lay it upon
fifty poon, and get surety for anither fifty."

"Then tell him, Jordas, that he may go