ulby's roof,
in the belief that he could not withstand her temptations; nor did she
imprudently discourage them; but the woman at last overcame the landlady
within her, and she wailed: "He won't come because of the drink. Oh! why
was I made to sell liquor, which he says sends him to the devil, poor
blessed boy? and I can't help begging him to take one little drop. I
did, the first night he was down, forgetting his ways; he looked so
desperate, he did, and it went on and went on, till he was primed, and
me proud to see him get out of his misery. And now he hates the thought
of me."

In her despair she encouraged Sedgett to visit her bar and parlour, and
he became everywhere a most important man.

Farmer Eccles's habits of seclusion (his pride, some said), and more
especially the dreaded austere Aunt Anne, who ruled that household, kept
people distant from the Warbeach farm-house, all excepting Sedgett,
who related that every night on his return, she read a chapter from the
Bible to Robert, sitting up for him patiently to fulfil her duty; and
that the farmer's words to his son had been: "Rest here; eat and drink,
and ride my horse; but not a penny of my money do you have."

By the help of Steeve Bilton, the Fairly huntsman, Sedgett was enabled
to relate that there was a combination of the gentlemen against Robert,
whose behaviour none could absolutely approve, save the landlady and
jolly Butcher Billing, who stuck to him with a hearty blind faith.

"Did he ever," asked the latter, "did Bob Eccles ever conduct himself
disrespectful to his superiors? Wasn't he always found out at his
wildest for to be right--to a sensible man's way of thinking?--though
not, I grant ye, to his own interests--there's another tale." And Mr.
Billing's staunch adherence to the hero of the village was cried out
to his credit when Sedgett stated, on Stephen Bilton's authority, that
Robert's errand was the defence of a girl who had been wronged, and
whose whereabout, that she might be restored to her parents, was all he
wanted to know. This story passed from mouth to mouth, receiving much
ornament in the passage. The girl in question became a lady; for it
is required of a mere common girl that she should display remarkable
character before she can be accepted as the fitting companion of a
popular hero. She became a young lady of fortune, in love with Robert,
and concealed by the artifice of the offending gentleman whom Robert had
challenged. Se