out what really did happen
and about great people who really lived. I think I can lend you some
stories like that."

Mercy thanked her and Estelle fell silent considering which book from
her limited collection would best meet the other's demand. Herself she
did not read many novels, but loved her books about plants and her
poets. Poetry was precious food to her, and Mr. Churchouse, who also
appreciated it, had led her to his special favourites. For the present,
therefore, Estelle was content with Longfellow and Cowper and
Wordsworth. The more dazzling light of Keats and Shelley and Swinburne
had yet to dawn for her.

Nancy Buckler arrived presently to sing her song. Her looks did not
belie Nancy. She was sharp of countenance, with thin cheeks and a
prominent nose. Her voice, too, had a pinch of asperity about it. By
nature she was critical of her fellow creatures. No man had desired her,
and the fact soured her a little and led to a general contempt of the
sex.

She smiled for Estelle, however, because the ingenuous child had won her
friendship.

"Good morning, miss," she said. "If you've got a pencil and paper, you
can take down the words."

"But sing them first," begged the listener. "I want to hear you sing
them to the old tune, because I expect the tune is as old as the words,
Nancy."

"It's a funny old tune for certain. I can't sing it like grandfather
did, for all his age. He croaked it like a machine running, and that
seemed the proper way. But I've not got much of a voice."

"'Tis loud enough, anyway," said Mercy, "and that's a virtue."

"Yes, you can hear what I'm saying," admitted Miss Buckler, then she
sang her song.

"When a twister, a twisting, will twist him a twist,
With the twisting his twist, he the twine doth entwist;
But if one of the twines of the twist doth untwist,
The twine that untwisteth, untwisteth the twist,
Untwisting the twine that entwineth between,
He twists with his twister the two in a twine.
Then, twice having twisted the twines of his twine,
He twisteth the twine he had twined in twine.
The twain, that in twining before in the twine,
As twines were entwisted, he now doth untwine,
'Twixt the twain intertwisting a twine more between."

Nancy gave her remarkable performance in a clear, thin treble. It was a
monotonous melody, but suited the words very well. She sang slowly and
her face and voice exhibited neither light nor shade. Yet her method
suited the words in their e