there were hardly any left, and they were looking for them. And
Tony Gusset said there was a reward of a hundred pounds offered for
every one that was caught, and he meant to catch one and make himself
rich."

"He had better mind his mending shoes and hammering his old lapstone,"
cried Waller, with an unwonted show of anger. "What's it got to do with
him?"

"There, now, if that isn't funny!" said the girl, clapping her hands.
"Why, that's just what Martha said to him, and he quite quarrelled with
her. He said it was his duty as the village constable to apprehend all
vagabonds, and that if his sister did not know how to pay him more
respect he should not stoop to come and speak to her again."

"Well done, cook!" cried Waller, laughing. "What then?"

"Why, she up and told him that he was only a lazy vagabond himself, for
he never did hardly any work, and that since he had been made constable
the place had not been big enough to hold him. But there, I can't stop
talking here; I have got to get your tea. What am I to say to Martha
about your taking that pork-pie?"

"Nothing," said Waller gruffly.

"But she meant it for your tea."

"Well, I had it for lunch instead. Now go away and don't bother."

"Well, I am sure!" cried the girl. "What's come to you, Master Waller?
You're as cross as two sticks."

"Of course I am, if you stop chattering here instead of getting me my
tea."

"But it won't be tea-time for another hour."

"I tell you it's always tea-time for anyone who hasn't had any dinner,
so go and get it at once."

Bella went out of the room, and gave the door a regular whisk to make it
bang, but repented directly after, and let it strike against her foot,
so that it was closed quietly.

Waller jumped up from his chair in an unwonted state of excitement, as
soon as he was alone, and began to walk hurriedly up and down the room.

"Then it's all true," he mused. "There are soldiers about, and if they
catch that poor fellow they will march him off to prison--and he is so
ill after being hunted about. Oh, it's too bad!" he continued, growing
more and more excited. "And there's no knowing what they would do.
Why, they hung the poor wretch who wasn't much more than a boy for
stealing that sheep; and I believe it was only because he was hungry and
out of work. Here, I know I oughtn't to interfere, but father isn't at
home, and I feel as if I ought to do something. I want to do something.
It seems s