e,' said Gwen,
with a smile and a sigh.

'Now has it now?' said Deb, leaning her bare elbows on the bed rail,
and looking at her with interest. 'Folk do say in the village that you
met with a deal o' trouble out in them foreign parts, and some haythen
rascal robbed you of all you stood up in. When you come to see us
after your return, we kept quiet, not likin' to ask; but Patty says to
me when you'd a gone, "She's been through a deal o' trouble, for there
be hard lines on her face, and a sad ring in her laugh," and we felt
mortal sorry for you, my dear.'

'Tis a good thing to have a will,' said Patty from her pillows, 'so
long as it don't get above the Lord's will.'

'That it couldn't never do,' quickly returned Deb; 'for God Almighty
can snap a body's will like dry twigs, and He be our Master. 'Tis a
blasphemous thing to try to get the better o' our Maker; and Miss
Gwen's will be not that sort.'

'I think it has been,' said Gwen, sitting down and softly stroking one
of Patty's withered old hands. 'I thought I could manage my life and
everybody else's independent of God, and He has shown me my mistake.
It has been a bitter lesson, but I hope I have learnt it.'

There was silence. Something in the simplicity and quaintness of this
old couple always drew out Gwen's best feelings, and she spoke to them
of things she would never mention to any one else.

'We've heerd say,' said Deb, after a pause, 'that all you young ladies
have lost your money. But that, may be, is only a tale.'

'Very close to truth,' said Gwen; 'and my earnest desire is to earn as
much money as possible. Can you tell me how to do it?'

'Young ladies set about such things different to us,' said Deb,
thoughtfully.

Patty looked up quickly.

'If so be that this is my last sickness, you'll not be long after me,
Deb, I'm thinkin', and then what about the golden russet? Will Miss
Gwen like to have the use o' it?'

Gwen thought her mind was wandering, until she saw how fearfully Deb
looked round the room, as if afraid any neighbour might be within
hearing.

'Hush you now! 'Tis not the time to be talkin' of our savin's. Miss
Gwen will take no notice o' such talk.'

And Gwen did not, only chatted on till Patty seemed to grow more
restless, and then she took her leave. When she told Agatha how she
had found them, Agatha at once resolved to send the doctor.

'She may die. So often, when once people like her give up and take to
their b