]

[4] See Notes.

We found Uncle Bennet just taking his lunch in the stone-flagged
sitting-room, which, however, had a square of cocoa-nut matting. He
was getting on in years, but very active. He welcomed us warmly: still
I thought I detected some uneasiness in his manner. His conscience
warned him that Cicely was going to attack him for his remissness; and
how was he to defend himself?

Without any preliminary, she at once demanded why he had not come down
to see them.

'Mary,' said he, calling the servant, as if he did not hear her, 'Some
ale, and the ginger wine, and the grey-beard--mebbe you'd like a drop
a' shart'--to me; but I declined. She repeated her question, but Uncle
Bennet was looking towards me.

'The wuts be very forrard,' said he, 'I got some a-most ready to cut.'

'Do you hear?' cried Cicely, angrily.

'Niece,' replied the farmer, turning to her, 'there's them summer
apples as you used to like, there be some ready; will 'ee have one?'

'I don't want your apples; why didn't you come down?'

'Aw; that's what you be a-talking about.'

'Yes, that's it.'

'The turmots wants some rain terrable bad' (to me)--'you med see the
fly a-hopping about 'em.'

'I hope they will spoil your turnips,' said Cicely; 'you are a very
rude man not to answer a lady when she speaks to you.'

'You be a-coming on nicely, Cissy,' said he. 'Have 'ee got are a
gage-ring yet?'

'How dare you!' (blushing). 'Tell me instantly why have you not been
to see us? You know how angry it makes me.'

'Well, I was a-coming,' deliberately.

'When were you coming?'

'Well, I got to see a man down your way, Cissy; a' owes me for a load
a' straw.'

'Then why don't you come down and get the money?'

'I telled 'ee I was a-coming. He wants some of our sheep to feed off a
meadow; s'pose I must see about it'--with a sigh, as if the idea of a
decision was insupportable.

'Why didn't you come before?'

'Aw, I don't seem to have no time'--farmers having more time than
anybody else.

'You could have come in June.'

'Bless 'ee, your feyther's got the hay about; a' don't want no
strangers bothering.'

'As if you were a stranger! Well, why didn't you come in May?'

'Lor bless 'ee, my dear.'

'In April?'

'Us was main busy a-hoeing.'

'In March?'

'I had the rheumatism bad in March.'

'Well, then,' concluded Cicely, 'now just change your coat and come
to-day. Jump up in the pony-trap--we will make room.'

'To-da