in rain and cold; and no cringing, either, to the
young and prosperous for the mere fault of age. The snowy valley, with
its circling woods, opened to him like a mother's breast; the sight of
it filled him with a hundred simple hopes and consolations; he hurried
to bury himself in it and be at peace.

He was within a hundred yards of the first house in the village, when
he saw a tall figure in uniform approaching, and recognised Watson.

At sight of him the policeman stopped short, and John was conscious of
a moment's vague impression of something strange in Watson's looks.

However, Watson shook hands with great friendliness.

"Well, I'm glad to see yer, John, I'm sure. An' now, I s'pose, you're
back for good?"

"Aye. I'm not going away no more. I've done my share--I wants a bit
o' rest."

"Of course yer do. You've been ill, 'aven't yer? You look like it.
An' yer puttin' up at Costrells'?"

"Yes, till I can turn round a bit. 'Ave yer seen any thin' ov 'em?
'Ow's Bessie?"

Watson faced back towards the village.

"I'll walk with yer a bit--I'm in no 'urry. Oh, she's all right. You
'eard of her bit o' money?"

John opened his eyes.

"Noa, I don' know as I did."

"It wor an aunt o' hers, soa I understan'--quite a good bit o' money."

"Did yer iver hear the name?" said John, eagerly.

"Some one livin' at Bedford, I did 'ear say."

John laughed, not without good-humoured relief. It would have touched
his vanity had his niece been discovered to be richer than himself.

"Oh, that's old Sophy Clarke!" he said. "Her 'usband bought the lease
o' two little 'ouses in Church Street, and they braat 'er in six
shillin's a week for years, an' she allus said she'd leave it to Bessie
if she wor took afore the lease wor up. But the lease ull be up end o'
next year, I know, for I saw the old lady myself last Michaelmas
twelve-month, an' she told me all about it, though I worn't to tell
nobody meself. An' I didn't know Sophy wor gone. Ah, well! it's not
much, but it's 'andy--it's 'andy."

"Six shillin's a week!" said Watson, raising his eyebrows. "It's a
nice bit o' money while it lassts, but I'd ha' thought Mrs. Costrell
'ad come into a deal more nor that."

"Oh, but she's sich a one to spend, is Bessie!" said John, anxiously.
"It's surprisin' 'ow the money runs. It's sixpence 'ere, an' sixpence
there, allus dribblin', an' dribblin', out ov 'er. I've allus tole 'er
as she'll end 'er days on the paris