"Axin' yo'r pardon, it isn't. An' what aw mean to say is a felly may mak' ducks an' drakes o' his own brass, an' nob'dy's onny right to say owt. But when it comes to lakin' wi' other folk's gear he cannot be too careful. So aw'n come to th' concloosion--" "Well?" we all cried. "To talk th' matter ovver fully wi' mi' owd mother. Oo's nobbut a simple body yo' may think, an' a working woman all th' days o' her life; but aw'n ne'er known her wrong yet, an' aw reckon oo's too old to begin." We all burst out laughing at what seemed, as the writer says, "a lame and impotent conclusion," but I fancy there was a glimmer of a tear in Ruth's eye as she jumped up and began to side the breakfast things and put fresh water on to boil for my father's morning stirabout. But Miriam said: "That's a good and a wise thought of yours, Jim. And I'm sure Ruth and Mr. Holmes would be very pleased if you could prevail on your good mother to come up here some afternoon and have tea with us. Let me play hostess, Ruth. Can't I give a tea-party out of this wonderful fortune of mine?" "We don't kill a pig every day," supplemented Jim. "Next Thursday night, then," decided Ruth. "I'll see father doesn't get called out that night, and there's no service for a wonder. And what do you say to asking Enoch Hoyle? He's been among th' cloth all his life, and should know something about it." "Oh! Enoch's reight enough," admitted Jim, "if he'll nobbut keep off religion, which aw tak' to be a matter needin' a mighty bit o' larnin' to understan'; though why it sud be soa it 'ud puzzle a plain man to explain. Aye, we'll ha' Enoch. But nob'dy else. 'Too monny cooks spoil the broth,' as aw'n heard mi owd mother say." And Jim, after shaking Miriam heartily by the hand and slapping me on the sound side of my back, set off Digglewards, Ruth finding it necessary to show him as far as the garden gate, though there was light enough by now, for we had lingered an unconscionable time over our meal, and surely Jim knew his way well enough by this time to find the gate blindfold.