be packed in a nutshell and carried away in the stomick
of a tomtit. You all of you know, neighbors and friends all, as
how my brother-in-law made a fool of himself, and was made a fool
of through the Countess Charlotte. And how that his farm got
mortgaged; and since then, with lawyers, got more charged; and the
family have led a strugglin' life since to keep their heads above
water. Well, I've got all their mortgage and debts into my hands,
and intend--"

He looked round with a malicious laugh. He saw a flutter of
expectation in his sister's eyes.

"No, Sally. I ain't going to give 'em up. I hold em, and ain't
goin' to stand no shilly-shally about payments when due. You may
be sure of that. And wot is more, I won't stand no nonsense from
you or Thomas or Samuel, but I expect you to be my very humble
servants, or I'll sell you up."

A look of blank consternation fell on the faces of the Rocliffes.
Others looked uneasy. Not the Rocliffes only were partially
submerged.

"I've somethin' also to say to Gilly Cheel. I ain't goin' to have
the Punch-Bowl made a Devil's cauldron of wi' his quarrels--"

"Hear, hear," from Betsy Cheel.

"And unless he lives peaceable, and don't trouble me wi' his noise
and she wi' her cattewawlin'."

"That's for you," said Jamaica, and nudged his wife.

"I'll turn 'em both out," proceeded Jonas. "For I've been gettin'
his papers into my hands also. And then, as to the Boxalls--"

The members of that clan now looked blank. Consternation was
spreading to all at table.

"As to the Boxalls," continued Jonas, "if their time hasn't come
just yet, it's comin'. I hope, neighbors and friends all, you've
enjyed the dessert."

A dead silence ensued. Every one felt that it would be better to
be in the power of a lawyer than of Bideabout.

Tears of mortification and resentment rose in the eyes of Sally
Rocliffe. Mehetabel hung her head in shame.

Then Thomas, stolid and surly, flung a letter across the table to
the Broom-Squire. "Take that," he said, "I don't wan't to be
burdened with nothin' of your'n. 'Tis a letter been lyin' at the
post for you, and Mistress Chivers gave it me. Wish I wos rid of
everything atwixt us as I be of that there letter now."

Jonas took the missive, turned it about, then carelessly opened it.

As he read his color faded, and he had hardly read to the end
before he sank back in his chair with a cry of rage and despair;
"The Wealden bank be broke. I'm a ruined m