wards thrust his
long nose round the door again.

"The English of it is you can't have anything for nothing--not in this
weary world," he said.

Then he disappeared.

A week later Sarah Northover came to see her aunt and congratulate her
on the great news.

"Now people know it," said Sarah, "they all wonder how ever 'twas you
and Mister Gurd didn't marry long ago."

"We've been wondering the same, for that matter, and Richard takes the
blame--naturally, since I couldn't say the word before he asked the
question. But for your ear and only yours, Sarah, I can whisper that
this thing didn't go by rule. And in sober honesty I do believe if he
hadn't heard another man wanted me, Mister Gurd would never have found
out he did. But such are the strange things that happen in human nature,
no doubt."

"Another!" said Sarah. "They're making up for lost time, seemingly."

"Another, and a good man," declared her aunt; "but his name is sacred,
and you mustn't ask to know it."

Sarah related events at Bridetown.

"You've heard, of course, about the goings on? Mister Ironsyde don't
marry Sabina, and her mother wants to have the law against him; but
though Sabina's in a sad state and got to be watched, she won't have the
law. We only hear scraps about it, because Nancy Buckler, her great
friend, is under oath of secrecy. But if he shows his face at Bridetown,
it's very likely he'll be man-handled. Then, against that, there's
rumours in the air he'll make great changes at the Mill, and may put up
all our money. In that case, I don't think he'd be treated very rough,
because, as my Mister Roberts says, 'Self-preservation is the first law
of nature,' and always have been; and if he's going to better us it will
mean a lot."

"Don't you be too hopeful, however," warned Mrs. Northover. "There's a
deal of difference between holding the reins yourself and saying sharp
things against them who are. He's hard, and last time he was in this
house but one, he got as drunk as a lord and Legg helped him to bed. And
he quarrelled very sharp with Mister Gurd for giving him good advice;
and Richard says the young man is iron painted to look like wood. And
he's rarely mistook."

"But he always did tell us we never got enough money for our work,"
argued Sarah. "And if anything comes of it and Nicholas and me earn five
bob more a week between us, it means marriage. So I'm in a twitter."

"What does John Best say?"

"Nought. We can't get a w