ile he felt himself
outgeneralled.

The widow sweetened the business by a feeble protest, and the Earl of
Barfield was lordly with ner.

"Must come down, my good woman," said his lordship, firmly, "must come
down. Obstruct the highway. Disgrace to the parish."

"That's what I said," mumbled Joseph, as he steadied the ladder from
below. The widow watched the process wistfully, and my lord chopped and
sawed with unwonted gusto. Branch after branch fell into the lane, and
the aged nobleman puffed and sweated with his grateful labor. He had not
had such a joyful turn for many a day. The widow moaned like a winter
wind in a key-hole, and when his lordship at last descended from his
perch she was wiping her eyes with her apron.

"I know full well what poor folks has got to put up with at the hands o'
them as the Lord has set in authority," said the widow, "but it's cruel
hard to have a body's bits o' trees chopped and lopped i' that way. When
ourn was alive his lordship niver laid a hand upon 'em. Ourn 'ud
niver ha' bent himself to put up wi' it, that he niver would, and Lord
Barfield knows it; for though he was no better nor a market-gardener, he
was one o' them as knowed what was becomin' between man and man, be
he niver so lowly, and his lordship the lord o' the manor for miles
around."

"Tut, tut, my good woman," returned his lordship. "Pooh, pooh! Do
for firewood. Nice and dry against the winter. Much better there than
obstructing the high-road--much better. Joseph Beaker, take the ladder."

"My turn next time," replied Joseph. "Carried it here."

His lordship, a little abashed, feigned to consider, and took snuff.

"Quite right, Joseph," he answered, "quite right. Quite fair to remind
me. Perfectly fair." But he was a good deal blown and wearied with his
exertions, and though anxious to escape the moanings of the widow he had
no taste for the exercise which awaited him. He braced himself for
the task, however, and handing the tools to his henchman, manfully
shouldered the ladder and started away with it. The lane was circuitous,
and when once he had rounded the first corner he paused and set down his
burden. "It's unusually warm to-day, Joseph," he said, mopping at his
wrinkled forehead.

"Theer's a coolish breeze," replied Joseph, "and a-plenty o' shadder."

"Do you know, Joseph," said the earl, in a casual tone, "I think I shall
have to get you to take this turn. I am a little tired."

"Carried it last tu