paling, as though
faint with fatigue.

'You can't tell me of any place near where I can get something to eat? I
have been working hard since daybreak, and now I am out of my reckoning,
and tired and hungry.' He glanced down at his tools and earth-stained
clothes.

He won his wish; the woman, who would not have tarried a moment for
selfish pleasure, remained out of generous pity.

'I've the piece mother put up, mebbe it's big enou' for we two.'

'But I could not think of taking your luncheon,' he exclaimed, with a
gallantry that was meant to be impressive, but was quite lost on his
practical companion. She proceeded to open her parcel and examine the
contents to see whether or not there was enough for two. He also
examined it critically with his eyes, in some alarm at her prompt
response to his appeal, but the thick slices of bread and meat, if not
dainty, were clean, and of excellent quality.

She took the largest and thickest bit and thrust it into his hand, very
much as a mother would feed her child with the portion she considered
its fair share.

''Ere, ye may 'ev that, fur I shan't want it.'

'You are very kind,' he said, with a touch of sarcasm too fine for her.

It appeared that, having taken out the food, she thought well to make
her own meal, for she went a few steps farther on, and, sitting down on
the grass with her back to the paling, began to eat. A large tuft of
weeds grew midway between him and her. Truly we can foresee consequences
but a very little way in our dealings with a fellow-creature, and this
man, as he stood munching his bread, uncertain how to proceed in winning
favour from the bold beauty, was hardly pleased with the result of his
encounter. His dog went and laid its head upon her knee, and she fed it
with crumbs; its master, after watching them a minute, stepped out on
the road with the intention of sitting down between them and the weeds.
As he did so he caught sight, as he thought, of a man seated in the very
place he intended to occupy. So strong was the impression that he
started and stared; but again, as before, there was no one to be seen.
The sunshine was bright upon all things; the palings were so far apart
that he could see everything in the fields behind; there was no one far
or near but the ploughman at half a field's distance, and they two, and
the dog.

The woman turned coolly round and looked through the paling, as if she
supposed he had seen something behind her. 'W