But accounts are that difficult."

This was not the spirit of the hour, however.

"I was gwaine to say that out of all our happiness an' fortune we might
let a little bubble awver for Chris--eh? She'm such a gude gal, an' you
love her so dearly as what I do a'most."

Phoebe read the project in a flash, but yet invited her husband to
explain.

"What d'you mean?" she asked distrustfully and coldly.

"I can see in your face you knaw well enough. That four-hunderd-odd
pound. I've sometimes thought I should have given Chris a bit of the
windfall when first it comed. But now--well, theer's this cruel coil
failed on 'em. You knaw the hardness of waiting. 'Twould be a butivul
thing to let 'em marry an' feel't was thanks to us."

"You want to go giving them money?"

"Not 'give' 'zactly. Us'll call it a loan, till the time they see their
way clearer."

Phoebe sighed and was silent for a while.

"Poor dears," she said at length. "I feel for 'em in my heart, same as
you do; yet somehow it doan't look right."

"Not right, Phoebe?"

"Not wise, then. Remember what you say the winters be up here--such
dreary months with no money coming in and all gwaine out to keep life in
the things."

"'Tis a black, bitin' business on the high farms--caan't deny that."

"Money flies so."

"Then let some fly to a gude end. You knaw I'm a hard, keen man where
other people be concerned, most times."

His wife laughed frankly, and he grew red.

"Damn it, Phoebe, doan't you take me like that else you'll get the rough
edge of my tongue. 'Tis for you to agree with what I'm pleased to say,
not contradict it. I _be_ a hard, keen man, and knaws the value of money
as well as another. But Chris is my awn sister, an' the long an' the
short is, I'm gwaine to give Clem Hicks a hunderd pound."

"Will! It's not reasonable, it's not fair--us working so hard
an'--an'--"

"They 'm to have it, anyway."

Her breath caught in a little, helpless gasp. Without a word she picked
up the material in her hands, huddled it up, and thrust it across the
table towards him. Then the passion faded out of his face, his eyes
softened and grew dreamy, he smiled, and rubbed his brown cheek with the
flannel.

"My awn, li'l clever woman, as have set about the fashioning of a bairn
so soon! God bless 'e, an' bless 'e an' be gude to 'e, an' the wee thing
coming!"

He put his arm round her and patted her hair and purred softly to her;
whereupon she relented and kis