ate of the wife is. It has been hard to tell you this, under our own
roof, and with our own--" Here mother hesitated.

"Spirits, and cider, and beer," I broke in; "out with it, like a Ridd,
mother; as he will have all of it."

"Spirits, and cider, and beer," said mother very firmly after me; and
then she gave way and said, "You know, Tom, you are welcome to every
drop and more of it."

Now Tom must have had a far sweeter temper than ever I could claim; for
I should have thrust my glass away, and never have taken another drop
in the house where such a check had met me. But instead of that, Master
Faggus replied, with a pleasant smile,--

"I know that I am welcome, good mother; and to prove it, I will have
some more."

And thereupon be mixed himself another glass of hollands with lemon and
hot water, yet pouring it very delicately.

"Oh, I have been so miserable--take a little more, Tom," said mother,
handing the bottle.

"Yes, take a little more," I said; "you have mixed it over weak, Tom."

"If ever there was a sober man," cried Tom, complying with our request;
"if ever there was in Christendom a man of perfect sobriety, that man is
now before you. Shall we say to-morrow week, mother? It will suit your
washing day."

"How very thoughtful you are, Tom! Now John would never have thought of
that, in spite of all his steadiness."

"Certainly not," I answered proudly; "when my time comes for Lorna, I
shall not study Betty Muxworthy."

In this way the Squire got over us; and Farmer Nicholas Snowe was
sent for, to counsel with mother about the matter and to set his two
daughters sewing.

When the time for the wedding came, there was such a stir and commotion
as had never been known in the parish of Oare since my father's
marriage. For Annie's beauty and kindliness had made her the pride of
the neighbourhood; and the presents sent her, from all around, were
enough to stock a shop with. Master Stickles, who now could walk, and
who certainly owed his recovery, with the blessing of God, to Annie,
presented her with a mighty Bible, silver-clasped, and very handsome,
beating the parson's out and out, and for which he had sent to Taunton.
Even the common troopers, having tasted her cookery many times (to help
out their poor rations), clubbed together, and must have given at least
a week's pay apiece, to have turned out what they did for her. This was
no less than a silver pot, well-designed, but suited surely rather
t