e fermenting in the bitterness of her heart.

"Tut, woman, it's more common than you think for. And where's the
harm? Och! it's happened to some of the best that's going. Now, if
he'd beaten you, or struck you"--and the good man raised both hands
and shook his head.

Then the thought leapt to her mind that she herself could punish
Stephen a hundredfold worse than any law of bishop or deemster. If
she could she would not now put him away. He should live on with her,
husband or no husband, and she with him, wife or no wife.

On her way home she called at the house of Kane Wade, sat down with
old Bridget, shed some crocodile tears, vowed she daren't have tould
it on no occount to no other morthal sowl, but would the heart of
woman belave it? her man had a wife in his own counthry!

Bridget, who had herself had four husbands, lifted her hands in
horror, and next day when Stephen Orry went down to the boats Kane
Wade, who had newly turned Methodist, was there already, and told
him--whittling a stick as he spoke--that the fishing was wonderful
lean living gettin', and if he didn't shorten hands it would be goin'
begging on the houses they'd all be, sarten sure.

Stephen took the hint in silence, and went off home. Liza saw him
coming, watched him from the door, and studied his hard set face with
a grim smile on her own.

Next day Stephen went off to Matt Mylechreest, the net maker, but
Matt shook his head, saying the Manxmen had struck against foreign
men all over the island, and would not work with them. The day after
that Stephen tried Nary Crowe, the innkeeper, but Nary said of course
it wasn't himself that was partic'lar, only his customers were
gettin' nice extraordinary about a man's moral character.

As a last hope Stephen went up to Cleave Kinley, who had land, and
asked for a croft of five acres that ran down to the beach of
Port-y-Vullin.

"Nothing easier," said Kinley, "but I must have six pounds for it,
beginning half-quarter day."

The rent was high, but Stephen agreed to it, and promised to go again
the following day to seal his bargain. Stephen was prompt to his
engagement, but Kinley had gone on the mountains after some sheep.
Stephen waited, and four hours later Kinley returned, looking abashed
but dogged and saying he must have good security or a year's rent
down.

Stephen went back home with his head deep in his breast. Again the
woman saw him coming, again she studied his face, and again she