agricultural produce. His mother cast about in secret
how to help him, but no means appeared until, upon an evening some ten
days after Blanchard's quarrel with Grimbal over the gate-post, she
suddenly determined to visit Monks Barton and discuss the position with
Miller Lyddon.

"I want to have a bit of a tell with 'e," she said, "'pon a matter so
near to your heart as mine. Awnly you've got power an' I haven't."

"I knaw what you'm come about before you speak," answered the other."
Sit you down an' us'll have a gude airing of ideas. But I'm sorry we
won't get the value o' Billy Blee's thoughts 'pon the point, for he's
away to-night."

Damaris rather rejoiced than sorrowed in this circumstance, but she was
too wise to say so.

"A far-thinkin' man, no doubt," she admitted.

"He is; an' 't is straange your comin' just this night, for Blee's away
on a matter touching Will more or less, an' doan't reckon to be home
'fore light."

"What coorious-fashion job be that then?"

"Caan't tell 'e the facts. I'm under a promise not to open my mouth, but
theer's no gert harm. Martin Grimbal's foremost in the thing so you may
judge it ban't no wrong act, and he axed Billy to help him at my advice.
You see it's necessary to force your son's hand sometimes. He'm that
stubborn when his mind's fixed."

"A firm man, an' loves his mother out the common well. A gude son, a
gude husband, a gude faither, a hard worker. How many men's all that to
wance, Miller?"

"He is so--all--an' yet--the man have got his faults, speaking
generally."

"That's awnly to say he be a man; an' if you caan't find words for the
faults, 't is clear they ban't worth namin'."

"I can find words easy enough, I assure 'e; but a man's a fule to waste
breath criticising the ways of a son to his mother--if so be he's a gude
son."

"What fault theer is belongs to me. I was set on his gwaine to Newtake
as master, like his gran'faither afore him. I urged the step hot, and I
liked the thought of it."

"So did he--else he wouldn't have gone."

"You caan't say that. He might have done different but for love of me.
'T is I as have stood in his way in this thing."

"Doan't fret yourself with such a thought, Mrs. Blanchard; Will's the
sort as steers his awn ship. Theer's no blame 'pon you. An' for that
matter, if your faither saved gude money at Newtake, why caan't Will?"

"Times be changed. You've got to make two blades o' grass graw wheer wan
did use, if yo