hey knew nothing till morning, when they
were awakened by the old man's suppressed laughter. When they opened
their eyes, the wife was already up and away to her outdoor tasks; and a
well-built, good-looking young fellow of the farmer type was staring in
astonishment at the two strangers in his bed. The more he stared, the
more the father laughed. "There's not a home nor a place for you, Rufus,
with you kapin' such onsaysonable hours. It's a sesayder you'll be
becoming yourself, running after Annerew Hislop's pretty daughter, and
dancing the toes out of your stockings till broad daylight. So, if
you're going to sesayde, your mother and me, we're going to take in
lodgers."

"What are they selling?" asked the Baby.

"Whisht! Rufus, whisht! come here now; it's not that they are at all,
but gentlemen from the city on a pedestrian tower," the father replied
in an audible whisper.

"What do they want testering the beds for! Is that some new crank got
into the guvment?"

"Rufus, Rufus, you'll be the death of your poor old father yet with your
ignorance. Who said anything about testing the beds? It's a pedestrian
tower, a holiday walking journey for the good of their healths, the
gentlemen are taking. Whisht, now, they're waking up. Good morning to
you, sirs; did I wake you up laughing at the Baby?"

The roused sleepers returned the salutation, and greeted the new comer,
apologizing for depriving him of his comfortable bed. Rufus replied
civilly, with a frank, open manner that won their respect, and, when
they had hastily dressed, led them to the pump, where he placed a tin
basin, soap and towels, at their disposal. After ablutions, they
questioned him as to the events of last evening, and were soon in
nominal acquaintance with all the country side. He was indignant at the
free and easy conduct of a self-invited guest called Rodden, who wanted
to dance with all the prettiest girls and to play cards. "But when he
said cards, Annerew, that's a sesayder, told him to clare, although it
was only four in the morning, and he had to clare, and is on his way to
Flanders now."

"I suppose you did not hear him make any enquiries regarding us?" asked
the dominie.

"But I did, and it was only when he hard that you hadn't been past the
meetin'-house, that he stopped and said 'ee'd 'ave a lark. Do you know
him?"

"Yes," said Coristine, "he is the Grinstun man," whereat they all
laughed; and the old lady, coming in with her milking,