ther the Redfurns be here or there, my boy, there is no want of
prying eyes to see all that the poor foreigners do. Your mother is
watched, it is my belief, every time she dips her cup; and I in the
mill, and you in the garden. There is no hope of keeping anything from
our enemies."

Seeing Oliver look about him uneasily, Mr Linacre reproached himself
for having said anything to alarm his timid boy: so he added what he
himself always found the most comforting thought, when he felt disturbed
at living among unkind neighbours.

"Let them watch us, Oliver. We do nothing that we need be ashamed of.
The whole world is welcome to know how we live,--all we do, from year's
end to year's end."

"Yes, if they would let us alone, father. But it is so hard to have our
things broken and spoiled!"

"So it is; and to know what ill-natured talk is going on about us. But
we must let them take their own way, and bear it as well as we can; for
there is no help for it."

"I wish I were a justice!" cried Mildred. "How I would punish them,
every one!"

"Then I wish you were a justice, my dear; for we cannot get anybody
punished as it is."

"Mildred," said Oliver, "I wish you would finish the cabbages. You know
they must be done; and I am very busy."

"Oh, Oliver! I am such a little thing to plant a whole cabbage bed.
You will be able to come by and by; I want to help you."

"You cannot help me, dear: and you know how to do the cabbages as well
as anybody. You really cannot help me."

"Well, I want to see you then."

"There is nothing to see yet. You will have done, if you make haste,
before I begin to cut. Do, dear!"

"Well, I will," replied Mildred, cheerfully. Her father caught her up,
and gave her one good jump down the whole flight of steps, then bidding
her work away before the plants were all withered and dead.

She did work away, till she was so hot and tired that she had to stop
and rest. There were still two rows to plant; and she thought she
should never get through them,--or at any rate, not before Oliver had
proceeded a great way with his carving. She was going to cry; but she
remembered how that would vex Oliver: so she restrained herself, and ran
to ask Ailwin whether she could come and help. Ailwin always did what
everybody asked her; so she gave over sorting feathers, and left them
all about, while she went down the garden.

Mildred knew she must take little George away, or he would be making