fastest. All arrived
in the yard together, except Ailwin, who turned back to take up George,
as he roared at being left behind.

"We must want a wise head or two among us," said the vexed miller. "If
we were as sharp as these times require, we surely could not be at the
mercy of folk we should scorn to be like. We must give more heed and
see what is to be done."

"Rather late for that, neighbour, when here is the stock you were
grinding and grinding for a week, all gone to plaster," said one of
Gool's men.

"That is what I say," replied the miller, contemplating the waste; "but
it may be better late than not at all."

Mrs Linacre was more affected than her husband by what had happened.
When she came home, poor Mildred's fortitude had just given way, and she
was crying over the body of her dear white hen. This caused Ailwin's
eyes to fill at the thought of her stockings and cloak, so that the
family faces looked cheerless enough.

"We deserve it all," said Mrs Linacre, "for leaving our place and our
children to the care of Gool's men, or of anybody but ourselves. I will
go no more to the spring. I have been out of my duty; and we may be
thankful that we have been no further punished."

As she spoke a few tears started. Her tears were so rare, that the
children looked in dismay at their father.

He gently declared that the more injury they suffered from the
country-people the more they needed all the earnings they could make.
They must cling to the means of an honest maintenance, and not throw
away such an employment as hers. He would not leave the children again
while the Redfurns were in the neighbourhood. He would not have left
them to-day, to serve anyone but the pastor; nor to serve even him, if
he had not thought he had bespoken sufficient protection. Nothing
should take him from home, or his eye off the children, to-morrow, she
might depend upon it.

Mrs Linacre said that if she must go she should take a heavy heart with
her. This was, she feared, but the first of a fresh series of attacks.
If so, what might not they look for next? However, she only asked to be
found in her duty. If her husband desired her to go, she would go; but
she should count over the hours of the day sadly enough.

Oliver ventured to bring up an old subject. He said what he most wanted
was to have earned money enough to get a watch. He was sure he could
hide it so that Roger should never guess he had one; and it wou