ut I did see every one of them,' Stephen answered; 'and Tim knew all
their voices; and there'll be lots to tell who came up in the last
skip.'

'There's nobody in Botfield will swear agen them,' pleaded Bess. 'Whose
place is it to know who came up in the last skip, or who was at the fire
last night? Oh, Stephen, the Bible says we're to do good to them that
hate us. And if father's hated thee, thee canst save him now.'

'Ay,' said Tim, 'Bess is right; there's not a mother's son in Botfield
to swear agen them for the master's sake. If he didn't see them, nor
Miss Anne, why need we know? I'll soon baffle the justice, I promise ye.
It's a rare chance to forgive Black Thompson, anyhow.'

'Bess and Tim,' answered Stephen, in great distress, 'I can't do it. It
isn't that I bear a grudge against thy father--I've almost forgotten
that he ever did anything to me. But it's not true; it's sure to come
out somehow. Why, I don't even know what I said to Miss Anne last night;
but if I hadn't told a word to anybody, I'd be bound to tell the truth
now.'

'Only say thee aren't certain,' urged Bess.

'Nay, lass,' said Stephen, 'I am certain. I'd do anything that was right
for thy sake, and to save thy father; but I can't do this, and it would
be no use if I could. God seeth in secret, and He will reward men
openly. He's begun to reward the master already. We can do nothing for
thy father, but every one of us tell the truth, and pray to God for
him.'

'Father was good to thee when thou wert ill,' said Bess.

'Ay, I know it,' he replied; 'but if he was my own father, I could not
tell a lie to get him off. I'd do anything I could. Oh, Bess and Tim,
don't ask me to go agen the right!'

'It'll break mother's heart,' said Bess, bursting out into a loud
crying. 'We made sure of thee, because thee says so much about having
thy enemies; and we were only afeared of Tim. Thee says we are to do to
another as we'd have them do to us. If thee was in father's place,
thee'd want him to do as I ask thee. Thee doesn't think father wants
thee to swear agen him?'

'Nay,' answered Stephen, 'the justice and Miss Anne would have me tell
the truth. It seems as if I can't do to everybody as they'd like me; so
I'll abide by telling the truth.'

There was no time for further discussion, for the constable from
Longville came in to conduct them before the magistrate, to give their
separate evidence concerning the events of the past night. Bess went
with