lems of his position.

"I be in two minds this marnin'," he said. "I've a thought to tell
mother of this matter. She 'm that wise, I've knawed her put me on the
right track 'fore now, an' never guess she'd done it. Not but what I
allus awn up to taking advice, if I follow it, an' no man 's readier to
profit by the wisdom of his betters than me. That's how I've done all I
have done in my time. T' other thought was to take your counsel an' see
Miller 'pon it."

"I was wrong, Will--quite wrong. I've been thinking, tu. He mustn't
knaw, nor yet mother, nor nobody. Quite enough knaws as 't is."

"What's the wisdom o' talkin' like that? Who 's gwaine to hide the
thing, even if they wanted to? God knaws I ban't. I'd like, so well as
not, to go up Chagford next market-day an' shout out the business afore
the world."

"You can't now. You must wait. You promised. I thought about it with
every inch of my brain last night, an' I got a sort of feeling--I caan't
explain, but wait. I've trusted you all my life long an' allus shall;
now 't is your turn to trust me, just this wance. I've got great
thoughts. I see the way; I may do much myself. You see, Jan Grimbal--"

Will stood still with his chin half shorn.

"You dare to do that," he said, "an' I'll raise Cain in this plaace;
I'll--"

He broke off and laughed at himself.

"Here be I blusterin' like a gert bully now! Doan't be feared, Phoebe.
Forgive my noise. You mean so well, but you caan't hide your secrets,
fortunately. Bless your purty eyes--tu gude for me, an' allus was,
braave li'l woman!

"But no more of that--no seekin' him, an' no speech with him, if that's
the way your poor, silly thought was. My bones smart to think of you
bearin' any of it. But doan't you put no oar into this troubled water,
else the bwoat'll capsize, sure as death. I've promised 'e not to say a
word till arter New Year; now you must promise me never, so help you, to
speak to that man, or look at un, or listen to a word from un. Fly him
like you would the devil; an' a gude second to the devil he is--if 't is
awnly in the matter o' patience. Promise now."

"You 'm so hasty, Will. You doan't onderstand a woman's cleverness in
such matters. 'T is just the fashion thing as shaws what we 'm made of."

"Promise!" he thundered angrily. "Now, this instant moment, in wan
word."

She gave him a single defiant glance. Then the boldness of her eyes
faded and her lips drooped at the corners.

"I promis