Lyddon,
thoughtfully. "An' what might you think o'doin, when you comes out o'
prison?"

"First gude work that offers."

"Maybe you doan't kuaw that chaps whose last job was on the treadmill
finds it uncommon hard to get another?"

"Depends what they was theer for, I should reckon, Miller"

"Not a bit of it. Gaol-birds is all feathered alike inside clink, an'
honest men feathers 'em all alike when they come out," declared Will's
father-in-law.

"A sheer Cain, as no man will touch by the hand--that's what you'll be,"
added Billy, without apparent regret.

"If that's so," said Will, very calmly, "you'd best to think twice 'fore
you sends me. I've done a high-handed deed, bein' forced into the same
by happenings here when I went off last summer; but 't is auld history
now. I'd like to be a credit to 'e some time, not a misery for all time.
Why not--?" He was going to suggest a course of action more favourable
to himself than that promised; but it struck him suddenly that any
attitude other than the one in which he had come savoured of snivelling
for mercy. So he stopped, left a break of silence, and proceeded with
less earnestness in his voice.

"You've had a matter of eight weeks to decide in, so I thought I might
ax'e, man to man, what's gwaine to be done."

"I have decided," said the miller coldly; "I decided a week ago."

Billy started and his blue eyes blinked inquiringly. He sniffed his
surprise and said "Well!" under his breath.

"Ess, 't is so, I didn't tell 'e, Blee, 'cause I reckoned you'd try an'
turn me from my purpose, which wasn't to be done."

"Never--not me. I'm allus in flat agreement with 'e, same as any wise
man finds hisself all times."

"Well, doan't 'e take it ill, me keepin' it to myself."

"No, no--awnly seem' how--"

"If it 's all the same," interrupted Will, "I'd like to knaw what you 'm
gwaine for to do."

"I'm gwaine to do nort, Will Blanchard--nort at all. God He knaws you
've wronged me, an' more 'n me, an' her--Phoebe--worst of all; but I'll
lift no hand ag'in' you. Bide free an' go forrard your awn way--"

"To the Dowl!" concluded Billy.

There was a silence, then Will spoke with some emotion.

"You 'm a big, just man, Miller Lyddon; an' if theer was anything could
make me sorry for the past--which theer ban't--'t would be to knaw
you've forgived me."

"He ain't done no such thing!" burst out Mr. Blee. "Tellin' 'e to go to
the Dowl ban't forgivin' of 'e!"

"That was