went off to see the Howitts in the afternoon.

Gwen had taken a real liking to the sisters, and would often drop in
upon Patty, and have a cup of tea with her when her sister was away.

It was a warm day, and she was glad to reach the cottage, with its
shady orchard round it, after the blazing meadows she had crossed.

Under an old apple-tree, on a low stool, she found Patty sitting,
knitting furiously away at a grey worsted stocking, and muttering to
herself as she did so.

'What is the matter?' Gwen asked gaily, as she took a seat on the grass
by her side; 'you look quite agitated!'

''Tis one of our bad days,' said Patty, looking up and shaking her head
dolefully. ''Tis generally the wash-tub that does it, and Monday is
our washing day. I did mean to be careful that my lips didn't offend,
but 'tis no good when she's of an argumentative turn! Yes, miss, she's
locked me out, and I hope she's enjoyin' herself, for on Mondays I
always bakes a cake for tea. Deb never did have a light hand for such
things, and she's a-messin' in there with my flour bin, and pilin' tons
of coal on the fire, for I've been watchin' the smoke, and I can tell,
and if I'm kept out here till dark, I'll maintain a promised wife comes
before a sister!'

'Is that the discussion?' asked Gwen, her eyes twinkling with amusement.

'Now let me put it to you, miss, and she'd no business to begin it over
the wash-tub, for it wants a cool head and a quiet mind to tackle such
things. She was tellin' me of a case that was told her up at
Thornicroft Manor, which is three mile the other side of Brambleton;
and the housekeeper knew the parties concerned, being first cousin once
removed to the young man. He was engaged to be married to an orphan
girl, a-tryin' to earn her livin' by dressmakin', but makin' a very
poor thing out of it. And they had kept company for six years, and
then his mother died and left his only sister on his hands. But mind
you, miss, they were a-goin' to be married, and had fixed the day
before his mother took ill, and then what does the young fellow do but
break it all off with his girl, sayin' he was only able to keep one
woman, and that would have to be his sister! Now what do you think,
miss? I say it was a cryin' shame of him, and Deb, she will have he
did right, for his sister was delicate, and flesh and blood come first,
she says. We argued it up and down, and she cried him up, and I cried
him down, and we gets hott