like this. He stood looking first at the crowd,
which was now passing on, and then at Sarah, doubtful which to accompany,
when the question was decided for him by a man in the crowd, who came
forward and said, 'I'll see Miss Clay home, Mr William; you'll be wanted
down Ousebank to-night.'

'Mickleroyd!' cried Mr Howroyd in amazement. 'You here! I didn't expect
to see you among this lot.'

William Howroyd feared no man, and 'said his mind,' as he was wont to
express it, and he was far too popular for it to be resented, perhaps
because his 'mind' had never anything but kindness in it, though it was
very truthful.

'I'll answer for my presence here if need be, Mr. William; but let me
take the young lady home. She'll be safe with me, and the town'll be
safer if you are there,' said the old man, with sturdy independence.

'I'll come, Luke.--Good-night, uncle,' said Sarah, deciding the question,
as usual, for herself.

'Good-night, Sarah. I'm glad you're going home; your mother'll be
worrying about you, I'll be bound, and she'll want some one to comfort
her,' said her uncle as he turned to go down the hill.

'Oh, Horatia's doing that, I've no doubt. I can't think why she wasn't
me, and I her. She'd have liked to live at Balmoral,' replied Sarah.

'She's a good young lady, Miss Sarah, and, if you'll excuse me, she's
done the master a mint of good. It's what he wants, some one to say a
word in season, and make him a little softer like,' said Luke Mickleroyd.

'You're all alike, Luke; you think there's no one like Horatia
Cunningham, and I can't think why except that she has a pleasant way of
saying things,' said Sarah a little bitterly.

'It isn't only that, miss; it's that she's got a lot of heart. But I know
you've got a heart too, and a heart of gold; only I often think 'tis a
pity some people cover it up so carefully that it wants a lot of digging
to come at,' remarked the man.

'I suppose you are talking about me; but don't I show you any feeling,
Luke?' asked Sarah rather reproachfully.

'Yes, miss, of course; and I wasn't thinking of you at the minute, as it
happened. I'm sorry I said what I did about Miss Cunningham if it annoyed
you, for I know from Naomi how kind you are, and what a true friend to
all our family. If I said anything, it was because I was thinking 'twas a
pity you didn't take things as the other young lady does, for if you had
very likely matters would never have come to this pass.'

Sara