great-grandfather, and I
don't know how many before them, have held it. And right honest people
they were. They never thought of interfering with us seafaring men, and
would as soon turn spies to the French as give notice to the revenue
when a cargo was to be run. If they guessed that any kegs of spirits,
or packages of silks or ribbons, were stowed away in one of their barns,
they took good care not to be prying about too closely until they knew
that the goods had been started off for London."

"My father always wished to live at peace with his neighbours, and would
not injure a smuggler more than any other man who did not interfere with
him, though I believe he has never received a keg of brandy or a piece
of silk for any service he may have done the smugglers," said Dick.

"You're right there, my lad," said Ben. "I mind once offering your good
mother a few yards of stuff to make her a Sunday gown, and, would you
believe it? she would not take them. When I just hinted that I should
leave them behind me, she was quite offended, and declared that if I did
she would speak to your father and have the outhouses kept closed, and
that it would be our own fault if some day all our goods were seized.
She shut me up, I can tell you. Yes, she is a good woman, and as kind
and charitable to the poor as any lady in the land. To my fancy she is
a lady just as much as Lord Elverston's wife. I mind when he was only
Squire Oswald. Because he kept hounds and was in Parliament, and came
into a heap of money, he got made a lord, and then a marquis, and now he
is setting his face against all us seafaring men hereabouts, and vows
that he must uphold the revenue laws, and put a stop to smuggling."

"I have no cause to care for the Marquis of Elverston or his sons
either, for often when I have passed them and touched my hat, as in
decent manners I was bound to do, they have looked at me as if I was a
beggar-boy asking for a ha'penny. The young one especially--Lord
Reginald--I had words with him one day, when he swore at me for not
picking up his whip which he had let drop out riding; and at another
time, when I was fishing in the lake at Elverston, he ordered me to be
off, because I was catching more than he was--though father has always
had the right of fishing there. He came up, with his fists doubled; but
I threatened to knock him into the water if he laid hands on me, and he
thought better of it. I was right glad when he wen