‘I never thought there was,’ said Mary, wondering in her distress what could be the grudge that Myles had against such a master as this. ‘I fair cried wi’ joy when I heard what you was going to do; but when Myles came in and told me----’ ‘But you do not mean that he has forbidden you--that he prevents--it is----’ ‘No!’ said Mary, suddenly. ‘Our Myles is not one of that sort, I can tell you, Mr. Mallory. He won’t take a penny himself--why, I don’t know. And I saw as it would go near to break his heart to see me and yon lad eating another man’s bread, and him standing by idle. But he said to me, “Thou’ll do what thou’s a mind to, Molly; it’s a great distress, and we m--mun--be g--great to meet it.” Oh! it were same as if he’d said, “There’s nowt for’t but to cut off my right hand; give me th’ chopper, and let me do it!”--that it were!’ She sobbed vehemently once or twice, and Sebastian read the passionate love and devotion she felt for that brother, whom, he began to think, he never could conquer. ‘Ah! that is more like him!’ he said warmly. ‘I thought I was mistaken. And will nothing persuade you to accept this help? It is such a small thing to refuse; and I do not think it right in you to refuse it. You must think of this brother of yours. He cannot stand the hardships of this time as Myles, and even you, can; and----’ ‘You are very good--reet-down kind, you are!’ said Mary, looking at him with gratitude. ‘I’ll say this. We’ll hold out as long as we can. We mun do that, if we want to think well of ourselves. But I’ll come to you when it gets too much. You’re reet: I can’t see nowt to be ashamed of in it.’ ‘You promise?’ ‘Ay, I promise.’ ‘That is well. Now, if your brother would come in, I could say what I have to say to him, and----’ Mary lifted her head. She heard footsteps along the flags of the back, and the tune being whistled which no one but Myles ever did whistle. She started forward as the back door was opened, and exclaimed, ‘Here’s Myles; he’s coming now.’ ‘Ah, I’m glad of that,’ said Sebastian, though he was fully conscious of Mary’s discomfited looks. ‘Now I can speak to him myself.’ The back door was closed again; the quick steps grew leisurely; presently the kitchen-door also was opened, and the voice of Myles was heard, saying, as he entered, ‘I say, Molly, thou must----’ He came in, and looked round with a smile, which flashed out of his face as he saw who was there. His first impulse was to ask fiercely, ‘What brings _you_ to my house?’ but Myles had very strongly developed the proverbial Lancashire sense of hospitality, and accordingly he suppressed his question, and remained silent, until Sebastian offered him his hand, saying courteously, ‘I hope you will not think I am intruding. I particularly wished to see you, and your sister was so kind as to ask me to wait a few minutes, in the hope that you would return.’