ithout a word, moves towards the inner room
in a dazed manner, lifts the latch, and goes in. After a moment's
hesitation, RUTH follows him, closing the door behind her. The boys,
who have been sitting staring at the fire, drowsily and unheeding,
rouse themselves gradually, stretching and yawning._)

NICHOLAS:
Grannie, we saw the circus:
And Ralph still says he wants to be a herd,
Like dad: but I can't bide the silly baas.
When I'm a man I'll be a circus-rider,
And gallop, gallop! I'm clean daft on horses.

(_An owl hoots piercingly without._)

RALPH:
Grannie, what's that?

JUDITH:
Only an owl, son.

NICHOLAS:
Bo!
Fearent of hoolets!

RALPH:
I thought it was a bo-lo.

NICHOLAS:
Bo-los or horneys or wirrakows can't scare me:
And I like to hear the jinneyhoolets scritching:
It gives me such a queer, cold, creepy feeling.
I like to feel the shivers in my hair.
When I'm a man I'll ride the fells by moonlight,
Like the mosstroopers, when the owls are skirling.
They used to gallop on their galloways,
The reivers, dad says ...

(_The owl calls again, and is answered by its mate; and then they seem
to be flying round and round Krindlesyke, hooting shrilly._)

RALPH:
Oh, there it is again!
Grannie, I'm freckened ...

JUDITH:
Its an ellerish yelling:
I never heard ...

RALPH:
What's in the other room?
I want my dad and mammy.

JUDITH:
You're overtired.
Come, I'll undress you, and tuck you into bed:
And you'll sleep sound, my lamb, as sound and snug
As a yeanling in a maud-neuk.

NICHOLAS:
I'll ride! I'll ride!

EPILOGUE

Ghosts of my fathers, where you keep
On ghostly hills your ghostly sheep,
Should you a moment chance to turn
The pages of this book to learn
What trade your offspring's taken to,
Because my exiled heart is true
To your Northumbrian fells and you,
Forgive me that my flocks and herds
Are only barren bleating words.

PRINTED IN GREAT BRITAIN BY
BILLING AND SONS, LTD., GUILDFORD AND ESHER

_KRINDLESYKE_

_By WILFRID GIBSON_

_Author of 'Livelihood,' 'Whin,'
'Neighbours,' &c._

_Crown 8vo._
6/-
_Net._

_M