done for you at half price."

"No, Sir, it is none o' that kind of thing," the dogman answered, with a
smile, as if he might have had such opportunities, but would trouble
no lawyer about them; "and I get too much of half price at home. It is
about my ladies I desire to make speech. They keep their business too
tight, master."

"Jordas, you have been well taught and trained; and you are a man of
sagacity. Tell me faithfully what you mean. It shall go no further. And
it may be of great service to your ladies."

"It is not much, Master Jellicoose; and you may make less than that
of it. But a lie shud be met and knocked doon, Sir, according to my
opinion."

"Certainly, Jordas, when an action will not lie; and sometimes even
where it does, it is wise to commit a defensible assault, and so to
become the defendant. Jordas, you are big enough to do that."

"Master Jellicoose, you are a pleasant man; but you twist my maning, as
a lawyer must. They all does it, to keep their hand in. I am speaking
of the stories, Sir, that is so much about. And I think that my ladies
should be told of them right out, and come forward, and lay their hands
on them. The Yordases always did wrong, of old time; but they never was
afraid to jump on it."

"My friend, you speak in parables. What stories have arisen to be jumped
upon?"

"Well, Sir, for one thing, they do tell that the proper owner of the
property is Sir Duncan, now away in India. A man hath come home who
knows him well, and sayeth that he is like a prince out there, with
command of a country twice as big as Great Britain, and they up and made
'Sir Duncan' of him, by his duty to the king. And if he cometh home, all
must fall before him."

"Even the law of the land, I suppose, and the will of his own father.
Pretty well, so far, Jordas. And what next?"

"Nought, Sir, nought. But I thought I wur duty-bound to tell you that.
What is women before a man Yordas?"

"My good friend, we will not despair. But you are keeping back
something; I know it by your feet. You are duty-bound to tell me every
word now, Jordas."

"The lawyers is the devil," said the dogman to himself; and being quite
used to this reflection, Mr. Jellicorse smiled and nodded; "but if you
must have it all, Sir, it is no more than this. Jack o' the Smithies,
as is to marry Sally o' Will o' the Wallhead, is to have the lease of
Shipboro' farm, and he is the man as hath told it all."

"Very well. We will wish him