“If thou hast made up thy mind, there’s no speaking again it; and thou must e’en go. Thou’lt be sadly pottered wi’ Manchester ways, but that’s not my look out. Why, thou’lt have to buy potatoes, a thing thou hast never done afore in all thy born life. Well! it’s not my look out. It’s rather for me than again me. Our Jenny is going to be married to Tom Higginbotham, and he was speaking of wanting a bit of land to begin upon. His father will be dying sometime, I reckon, and then he’ll step into the Croft Farm. But meanwhile”-- “Then, thou’lt let the farm,” said she, still as eagerly as ever. “Aye, aye, he’ll take it fast enough, I’ve a notion. But I’ll not drive a bargain with thee just now; it would not be right; we’ll wait a bit.” “No; I cannot wait, settle it out at once.” “Well, well; I’ll speak to Will about it. I see him out yonder. I’ll step to him, and talk it over.” Accordingly he went and joined the two lads, and without more ado, began the subject to them. “Will, thy mother is fain to go live in Manchester, and covets to let the farm. Now, I’m willing to take it for Tom Higginbotham; but I like to drive a keen bargain, and there would be no fun chaffering with thy mother just now. Let thee and me buckle to, my lad! and try and cheat each other; it will warm us this cold day.” “Let the farm!” said both the lads at once, with infinite surprise. “Go live in Manchester!” When Samuel Orme found that the plan had never before been named to either Will or Tom, he would have nothing to do with it, he said, until they had spoken to their mother; likely she was “dazed” by her husband’s death; he would wait a day or two, and not name it to any one; not to Tom Higginbotham himself, or may be he would set his heart upon it. The lads had better go in and talk it over with their mother. He bade them good day, and left them. Will looked very gloomy, but he did not speak till they got near the house. Then he said,-- “Tom, go to th’ shippon, and supper the cows. I want to speak to mother alone.” When he entered the house-place, she was sitting before the fire, looking into its embers. She did not hear him come in; for some time she had lost her quick perception of outward things. “Mother! what’s this about going to Manchester?” asked he.