ff with
her apron and on with her bonnet, iv'ry chance. I reckon ye'd like a
silk gown, ye wad."

"Never mind my clothes," said Liza. Mrs. Garth gave her no time to say
more, for, at the full pitch of indignation, she turned to Rotha, and
added: "And ye're a rare pauchtie damsel. Ye might have been bred at
Court, you as can't muck a byre."

"Go home to bed, old Cuddy Garth," said Liza, "and sup more poddish,
and take some of the wrinkles out of your wizzent skin."

"Setting yer cap at the Rays boys," continued Mrs. Garth, "but it'll
be all of no use to ye, mark my word. Old Angus never made a will, and
the law'll do all the willin', ye'll see."

"Don't proddle up yon matter again, woman," said Liza.

"And dunnet ye threep me down. I'll serve ye all out, and soon too."

Mrs. Garth had now reached the porch. She had by this time forgotten
her visit of consolation and the poor invalid, who lay on the bed
gazing vacantly at her angry countenance.

"Good evening, Sarah," cried Liza, with an air of provoking
familiarity. "May you live all the days o' your life!"

Mrs. Garth was gone by this time.

Rotha stood perplexed, and looked after her as she disappeared down
the lonnin. Liza burst into a prolonged fit of uproarious laughter.

"Hush, Liza; I'm afraid she means mischief."

"The old witch-wife!" cried Liza. "If tempers were up at the Lion for
sale, what a fortune yon woman's would fetch!"

CHAPTER XXII. THE THREATENED OUTLAWRY.

Rotha's apprehension of mischief, either as a result of Mrs. Garth's
menace or as having occasioned it, was speedily to find realization.

A day or two after the rencontre, three strangers arrived at
Shoulthwaite, who, without much ceremony, entered the house, and took
seats on the long settle in the kitchen.

Rotha and Willy were there at the moment, the one baking oaten cake,
and the other tying a piece of cord about a whip which was falling to
pieces. The men wore plain attire, but a glance was enough to satisfy
Willy that one of them was the taller of the two constables who had
tried to capture Ralph on Stye Head.

"What do you want?" he asked abruptly.

"A little courtesy," answered the stalwart constable, who apparently
constituted himself spokesman to his party.

"From whom do you come?"

"_From_ whom and _for_ whom!--you shall know both, young man. We come
from the High Sheriff of Carlisle, and we come for--so please
you--Ralph Ray."

"He's not here."

"S