ly folded, was conspicuous in one corner.
A bedroom, of ample size for one woman of modest requirements, opened
out of the kitchen, and I saw at a glance that I might have as cosy a
home as Mother Hubbard herself. My mind was made up; but then so was
Farmer Goodenough's, and as I looked at the square jaw and the thin
lips I was convinced that this man with the good-natured face was not
to be moved from his resolution.

"I shall take the cottage for twelve months," I said; "but I recognise
the force of your objection, and I will not ask you to make out an
agreement until to-morrow--to-morrow morning.

"But I claim to be a Yorkshirewoman, and so can be just a wee bit
stupid myself, and you know the proverb says, 'When a woman says she
will, she _will_, you may depend on 't.' Tell me, though, is not ten
pounds per annum a very low rental, seeing that the cottage is
furnished?"

"Low enough," he answered, "sadly too low; but it's as much as I can
get. I charge fifteen shillin' a week in summer time, but then it
never lets for more'n three months at t' outside, an' for t' rest o' t'
year it 'ud go to rack an' ruin if I didn't put fires in it now an'
then, an' get Mrs. 'Ubbard here to look after it. So I reckon it'll
pay me as well to have someone in for a twelvemonth, even if I make no
more money. But, miss"--he hesitated a moment, and thrust his hands
deep into his trousers' pockets, whilst his eyes, as I thought, became
tender and fatherly--"you must excuse _me_; I'm a deal older nor you,
an' though I haven't knocked about t' world much, I've learned a thing
or two i' my time, an' I have it on my mind to warn you. What t' Owd
Book says is true: 'As you make your bed, so you must lie on 't,' an'
it's uncommon hard an' lumpy at times. You know your own business
best, an' I will say 'at I like t' look on you, an' it 'ud be a good
thing for Mrs. 'Ubbard here to have you for a neighbour, but--think it
well over, an' don't do nowt daft."

I suppose some people would not have liked it, but I did, and I told
him so. And really it had the opposite effect from that he intended,
for it showed me that I might have at least two friends in Windyridge,
and that one of them would not be wanting in candour.

These preliminaries settled, the farmer handed the key to Mother
Hubbard, so that it would be handy for me, as he explained, IF I should
turn up again in the morning, and prepared to take his departure. Just
as he reache