'mazin' dark curls on his wee head, though my
mother says 'tis awnly a sort o' catch-crop, an' not the lasting hair
as'll come arter."

"A bwoy! Glory be!" said Mr. Blee. "If theer's awnly a bit o' the
gracious gudeness of his gran'faither in un, 'twill prove a prosperous
infant."

"Thank God for a happy end to all my prayers," said Mr. Lyddon. "Billy,
get Will something to eat an' drink. I guess he's hungry an' starved."

"Caan't eat, Miller; but I'll have a drop of the best, if it's all the
same to you. Us must drink their healths, both of 'em. As for me 'tis a
gert thing to be the faither of a cheel as'll graw into a man some day,
an' may even be a historical character, awnly give un time."

"So 'tis a gert thing. Sit down; doan't tramp about. I lay you've been
on your feet enough these late hours."

Will obeyed, but proceeded with his theme, and though his feet were
still his hands were not.

"Us be faced wi' the upbringing an' edication of un. I mean him to be
brought up to a power o' knowledge, for theer's nothin' like it. Doan't
you think I be gwaine to shirk doin' the right thing by un', Miller,
'cause it aint so. If 'twas my last fi'-pun' note was called up for
larnin' him, he'd have it."

"Theer's no gert hurry yet," declared Billy. "Awnly you'm right to look
in the future and weigh the debt every man owes to the cheel he gets.
He'll never cost you less thought or halfpence than he do to-day, an',
wi'out croakin' at such a gay time, I will say he'll graw into a greater
care an' trouble, every breath he draws."

"Not him! Not the way I'm gwaine to bring un up. Stern an' strict an' no
nonsense, I promise 'e"

"That's right. Tame un from the breast. I'd like for my paart to think
as the very sapling be grawin' now as'll give his li'l behind its fust
lesson in the ways o' duty," declared Mr. Blee. "Theer 's certain things
you must be flint-hard about, an' fust comes lying. Doan't let un lie;
flog it out of un; an' mind, 'tis better for your arm to ache than for
his soul to burn."

"You leave me to do right by un. You caan't teach me, Billy, not bein' a
parent; though I allow what you say is true enough."

"An' set un to work early; get un into ways o' work so soon as he's able
to wear corduroys. An' doan't never let un be cruel to beastes; an'
doan't let un--"

"Theer, theer!" cried Mr. Lyddon. "Have done with 'e! You speak as fules
both, settin' out rules o' life for an hour-old babe. You talk to h