o take a turn at watching.
I ought to be good at that, seeing it's my trade; but Miss Sarah's found
us some one better, I see, in Omi.'

'We're glad to know the child is better, Luke,' said Mrs Clay, as she
added some suggestions about the child's treatment. 'An' now we're goin'
on to the mills; but if the doctor orders anythin' special, or Ruthie
fancies w'at you can't get, be sure an' send up to us. The master won't
grudge you that. An' if you want Naomi the night, keep 'er, so long as we
know. Jane Mary could come wi' the message after the mills are out. A
walk would do her good.'

'Jane Mary won't come nigh Balmoral,' put in Naomi suddenly.

'How'd thy tongue, Omi!' said her father, and Naomi subsided.

'Jane Mary should do w'at she's told; she's too independent,' said Mrs
Clay, and, with a short 'Good-morning,' they all went off.

Sarah turned to wave a friendly farewell, whereupon Mrs Clay said, with
some irritation, 'It seems to me, Sarah, that folk 'ave only got to be
nasty to your father for you to like 'em. It's not much good goin' on
like that. You know w'at the Bible says: a 'ouse divided against itself
cannot stand.'

'I wonder if that's true,' said Sarah gravely.

'Sarah, 'owever dare you!' exclaimed Mrs Clay; and even Horatia looked
rather shocked at this remark.

'Oh, I'm not talking about the Bible; of course I believe that. I meant
what you said,' explained Sarah. But this was not much better.

'Thank you, Sarah. W'atever I said, I 'ope it was true. I'm not in the
'abit of tellin' untruths.' Mrs Clay had forgotten what she had said.

'You only said what you thought, and we can all make that kind of
mistake. I only meant that I wonder whether I do like people better if
they dislike father.'

'Then you ought to be ashamed of yourself, for 'e's a good father. An'
look at all these mills; every brick is 'is an' built by 'im--'is money,
I mean--an' thousan's of poun's' worth of wool goods sent out every
week--well-made goods, too, as every one will tell you. 'E's a wonderful
man is your father, an' one to be proud of, not despised. Most girls
would 'old their 'eads 'igh for bein' 'is daughter, not 'old it 'igh to
despite 'im.--Oh, good-mornin', my men! good-mornin'!' Mrs Clay
exclaimed, as the gates were thrown open for them to enter, and she saw
some men crossing the yard.

The men replied by a surly 'Good-morning;' one or two touched their hats,
but the most of them took no notice of the mas