w, since his
second visit to the Abbey, the Attorney had been thinking things over.
It was clear that both Sir Arthur and Miss Somers thought highly of
the Price family, so perhaps it was a mistake on his part not to be on
friendly terms with them too. He felt sure that if the story of
Susan's lamb ever reached the Abbey, Sir Arthur would have no more to
do with him. It would therefore be well to get into the good graces
of the farmer and his family. So when Mr. Case met Susan at the door
he smiled and said, "How is your mother? Have you called for something
that may be of use to her? Barbara, Barbara--Bab, come downstairs,
child, and see what you can do for Susan Price." But no Barbara
answered, and her father stalked upstairs to her room. There he stood
still, amazed at the sight of his daughter's swollen face.

Before Mr. Case could speak, Betty began to tell the story of
Barbara's mishap in her own way. Barbara spoke at the same time,
giving quite another account of what had happened. The Attorney turned
the maid away on the spot, and turning to Barbara asked how she dared
to treat Susan Price so ill, "when," as he said, "she was kind enough
to give you some of her honey. I will not let you treat her so."
Susan, who could not but hear all that was said, now went to beg the
angry father to forgive his daughter.

"You are too good to her, as indeed you are to everybody," he said. "I
forgive her for your sake."

Susan courtesied in great surprise, but she could not forget the
Attorney's treatment of Daisy, and she left his house as soon as she
could to get ready her mother's breakfast. Mr. Case saw that Simple
Susan was not to be taken in by a few simple words, and when he tried
in the same way to approach her father, the blunt, honest farmer
looked at him with disdain.

XI

THE PRIZE-GIVING

So matters stood on the day of the long-expected prize-giving and
ball. Miss Barbara Case, stung by Susan's bees, could not, after all
her efforts, go with Mrs. Strathspey to the ball. The ballroom was
filled early in the evening. There was a large gathering. The harpers
who tried for the prize were placed under the music-gallery at the
lower end of the room. Among them was our old blind friend, who, as he
was not so well clad as the others, seemed to be looked down upon by
many of the onlookers. Six ladies and six gentlemen were chosen to be
judges of the performance. They were seated opposite to the harpers.
The