be sworn) all the while, as if a' liked to hear the sound of
it."

"If I'd a' been beside him," said Hazel, "I'd a' saved him that
trouble--only I'd a' laid it into _another_ part of him!"

"Ha, ha, ha!" they laughed--and presently passed on to other matters.

"Hath the squire been doing much lately in Parliament?" inquired the
sexton, of Dickons.

"Why, yes--he's trying hard to get that new road made from Harkley
bridge to Hilton."

"Ah, that would save a good four mile, if a' could manage it!" said one
of the farmers.

"I hear the Papists are trying to get the upper hand again--which the
Lud forbid!" said the sexton, after another pause.

"The squire hath lately made a speech in that matter, that hath finished
them," said Dickons, in a grave and authoritative tone.

"What would they be after?" inquired the landlord of Dickons, of whom,
in common with all present, he thought great things. "They _say_ they
wants nothing but what's their own, and liberty, and that like"----

"If thou wert a shepherd, Master Higgs," replied Dickons, "and wert to
be asked by ten or a dozen wolves to let them in among thy flock of
sheep, they saying how quiet and kind they would be to 'em--would'st let
'em in, or keep 'em out?--eh?"

"Ay, ay--that be it--'tis as true as gospel!" said the clerk.

"So you a'n't to have that old sycamore down, after all, Master
Dickons?" inquired Tonson, after a pause in the conversation.

"No; Miss hath carried the day against the squire and Mr. Waters; and
there stands the old tree, and it hath to be looked to better than ever
it were afore!"

"Why hath Miss taken such a fancy to it? 'Tis an old crazy thing!"

"If thou hadst been there when she did beg, as I may say, its life,"
replied Dickons, with a little energy--"and hadst seen her, and heard
her voice, that be as smooth as cream, thou would'st never have
forgotten it, I can tell thee!"

"There isn't a more beautiful lady i' t' county, I reckon, than the
squire's sister?" inquired the sexton.

"No, nor in all England: if there be, I'll lay down twenty pounds!"

"And where's to be found a young lady that do go about i' t' village
like she?--She were wi' Phoebe Williams t'other night, all through the
snow, and i' t' dark."

"If I'd only laid hands on that chap!" interrupted the young farmer, her
rescuer.

"I wonder she do not choose some one to be married to, up in London,"
said the landlord.

"She'll be having some delicate high