t Minsterham.

Captain Carbonel had consulted George Hewlett, when arranging the ruins
at Greenhow, as to what had best be done for John, whose services he
could not forget. George considered for a night, and the next day
said--

"Well, sir, I beg your pardon, but the best thing as could be done with
that there John would be to put him somewhere to learn the
cabinet-making. He is a right sharp, clever hand, and knows pretty well
all I can teach him; and he would get on famous if he had the chance.
And it bain't so comfortable for him here. Some of 'em owes him a
grudge for bringing the soldiers down on 'em, and calls him an informer;
and it will be all the worserer for him when his father comes home--the
scamp that he is! I'm ready to wish my name wasn't the same. Wuss
shame by far than to be strung up to turn agin him as he was hand and
glove with!"

"I am quite of your opinion, Hewlett; and I fully think John would be
best out of the way, poor fellow. I will inquire for a good master for
him."

"Thank you, sir. I would have had the boy up to sleep at my place, but
he won't leave his poor aunt. He be the chief comfort she has, poor
thing. But she won't be here long anyway; and if ever there was a good
woman, 'tis Judith Grey."

It was quite true. Mr Harford, who had come home on Saturday, walked
over to Poppleby, partly for the sake of saying that Judith was
certainly near the close of her trials, and that it was her great wish
to see one of the dear ladies again, though she durst not ask one of
them to come into Dan's house. Indeed Mr Harford had only drawn the
expression of her desire out of her with difficulty.

Mrs Carbonel was not well enough for a trying interview, so it was
Sophy who drove from Elchester with her brother-in-law, grave and
thoughtful, and only wishing to avoid everybody; for she could not yet
forget how no one had shown any gratitude, nor desire to shield those
who had been so long their friends. The Poppleby doctor had been sent
to see Judith, and had pronounced that the old disease had made fatal
progress, accelerated by the hysterical convulsions caused by the night
and day of suspense and anxiety, and the attack on her nephew, as well
as the whole of Dan's conduct. He did not think that she could last
many more days.

So Sophy arrived at the well-known cottage, and was met at the door by
Molly, with her apron to her eyes, and a great deal to say about her
poor sister, a