master's too many for thee. But thee go down to Stephen; and
we'll move the things safe, as if they were our own, and put them where
they'll not be broken; and we'll take care of little Nan and thy poor old
grandfather. Tell Stephen we're desperately cut up about it ourselves;
but, if we hadn't done it, somebody that has no good-will towards him
would have taken the job. So go thy poor ways with thee, my lass; we are
main sorry for thee and Stephen.'

The hot, choking smoke from the limekiln was blowing across the works;
and the dusty pit-bank was covered with busy men and boys and girls,
shouting, laughing, singing, and swearing, when Martha arrived at
Botfield. She was rarely seen at the pit, for her thrifty and housewifely
habits kept her busy at Fern's Hollow; and the rough, loud voices of the
banksmen, the regular beat of the engine, the clanking of chains, and the
dust and smoke and heat of the almost strange scene bewildered the
hillside girl. She made her way to the cabin, a little hut built near the
mouth of the shaft for the use of the people employed about the pit; but
before she could see Tim, or fix upon any one to inquire about Stephen
from, a girl of her own age, but with a face sunburnt and blackened from
her rough and unwomanly work, and in an uncouth dress of sackcloth, which
was grimed with coal-dust, came up and peered boldly in her face.

'Why, it's Miss Fern!' she cried, with a loud laugh; 'Miss Fern, Esq.,
of Fern's Hollow, come to learn us poor pit-folk scholarship and manners.
Here, lads! here's Mr. Stephen Fern's fine sister, as knows more nor all
of us put together. Give us a bit of your learning, Miss Fern.'

'I know a black-bess when I see one,' replied Martha sharply; and all the
boys and girls joined in a ready roar of merriment against Bess Thompson,
whose nickname was the common country name for a beetle.

'That'll do!' they shouted; 'she knows a black-bess! Thee's got thy
answer, Bess Thompson.'

'What's brought thee to the pit?' asked Bess fiercely; 'we want no
scatter-witted hill girls here, I can tell ye. So get off the pit-bank,
afore I drive thee off.'

'What's all this hullabaloo?' inquired Tim, making his appearance at the
cabin door. 'Why, Martha, what brings thee at the pit? Come in here, and
tell me what's up now.'

Tim listened to Martha's tearful story with great amazement and
indignation; and, after a few minutes' consideration, he told her he had
nothing much to do