said in a suppressed voice, "I canna say no more."

"Never mind that," he answered, "I could have done no less. If you could
go home now----"

"I shall na go whoam to neet," she interrupted him.

"You cannot remain out of doors!" he exclaimed.

"If I do, it wunnot be th' first toime," meeting his startled glance
with a pride which defied him to pity or question her. But his sympathy
and interest must have stirred her, for the next minute her manner
softened. "I've done it often," she added, "an' nowts nivver feared me.
Yo' need na care, Mester, I'm used to it."

"But I cannot go away and leave you here," he said.

"You canna do no other," she answered.

"Have you no friends?" he ventured hesitatingly.

"No, I ha' not," she said, hardening again, and she turned away as if
she meant to end the discussion. But he would not leave her. The spirit
of determination was as strong in his character as in her own. He tore
a leaf from his pocket-book, and, writing a few lines upon it, handed it
to her. "If you will take that to Thwates' wife," he said, "there will
be no necessity for your remaining out of doors all night."

She took it from him mechanically; but when he finished speaking, her
calmness left her. Her hand began to tremble, and then her whole frame,
and the next instant the note fell to the ground, and she dropped into
her old place again, sobbing passionately and hiding her face on her
arms.

"I wunnot tak' it!" she cried. "I wunnot go no wheer an' tell as I'm
turned loike a dog into th' street."

Her misery and shame shook her like a tempest. But she subdued herself
at last.

"I dunnot see as yo' need care," she protested half resentfully. "Other
folk dunnot. I'm left to mysen most o' toimes." Her head fell again and
she trembled from head to foot.

"But I do care!" he returned. "I cannot leave you here and will not. If
you will trust me and do as I tell you, the people you go to need know
nothing you do not choose to tell them."

It was evident that his determination made her falter, and seeing this
he followed up his advantage and so far improved it that at last, after
a few more arguments, she rose slowly and picked up the fallen paper.

"If I mun go, I mun," she said, twisting it nervously in her fingers,
and then there was a pause, in which she plainly lingered to say
something, for she stood before him with a restrained air and downcast
face. She broke the silence herself, however, suddenly l