bore wi' _Mall_ for fifty year, and it
comes easier than it might to an other man. And the Lord has bore wi'
me for seventy odd. If He can bear wi' me a bit longer, I reckon I can
wi' _Mall_."

Aunt _Joyce_ smiled on old _Isaac_ as she rose up.

"Ay, Goodman, that is the best way for to take it," saith she. "And
now, _Nell_, we must hurry home, for I see a mighty black cloud o'er
yonder."

So we home, bidding God be wi' ye to old _Mall_, in passing, and had but
a grunt in answer: but we won home afore the rain, and found _Father_
and _Mynheer_ a-talking in the great chamber, and _Mother_ above, laying
of sweet herbs in the linen with _Edith_.

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Note 1. Passages from the New Testament are quoted from Cranmer's or
the Geneva version, both then in common use.

CHAPTER TWO.

WHEREIN IDEAS DIFFER.

"O man, little hast thou learned of truth in things most true."--Martin
Farquhar Tupper.

(_In Helen's handwriting_.)

SELWICK HALL, OCTOBER THE XII.
Well! _Milly_ saith nought never happens in this house. Lack-a-daisy!
but I would fain it were so!

One may love one's friends, and must one's enemies, _Father_ saith. But
how should one feel towards them that be nowise enemies, for they mean
right kindly, and yet not friends, seeing they make your life a burden
unto you?

Now, all our lives have I known Master _Lewthwaite_, of _Mere Lea_, and
Mistress _Lewthwaite_ his wife, and their lads and lasses, _Nym, Jack_,
and _Robin_, and _Alice_ and _Blanche_. Many a game at hunt the slipper
and blind man's buff have we had at _Mere Lea_, and I would have said
yet may, had not a thing happed this morrow which I would right fain
should ne'er have happened while the world stood.

What in all this world should have made _Nym_ so to do cannot I so much
as conceive. He might have found a deal fairer lasses. Why, our
_Milly_ and _Edith_ are ever so much better-favoured. But to want me!--
nor only that, but to come with so pitiful a tale, that he should go
straight to ruin an' I would not wed with him; that I was the only maid
in all the world that should serve against the same; and that if I
refused, all his sins thereafter should be laid at my door! Heard any
ever the like?

And I have no list to wed with _Nym_. I like him--as a dozen other
lads: but that is all. And meseems that before I could t