“How mich are you axin’?” said the visitor, grinning appreciatively at this sally. She named her terms, adding, “Tak’ it or leave it.” “I’ll tak’ it,” said he. “Theer, that job’s sattled. Now then, missus—Mrs Whiteside; that’s yo’r name, isn’t it?” “_Miss_ Whiteside,” corrected Jinny, preceding him down the stairs, “I were never wed.” “Oh,” said he, with a quizzical look, “what were the lads about? Well, Miss Whiteside, I hope you are satisfied?” “I’ll let yo’ know that at the week-end,” said Jinny. “What met yo’r name be?” “Luke Kershaw,” responded he. “Well, ’tis as good a name as any other. Theer’s one thing, Luke, yo’ mun keep to the rules o’ the house. Yo’ll find out about ’em soon enough,” she added, in reply to his questioning look. “Fetch yo’r things now, I mun get agate wi’ my wark.” When Luke returned dinner was set forth, and his fellow-lodger, who was likewise his fellow-servant at the railway station, was already seated. Miss Whiteside set before them a deep dish, containing thick slices of bacon done after the incomparable rustic fashion, and emitting a most appetising odour; and jerking open the oven-door, produced therefrom a tin full of smoking potatoes, nicely browned in dripping, which she rapidly proceeded to transfer to the hot dish lying ready to hand before the fire. “My word,” exclaimed Luke, rubbing his hands, “this is what yo’ may call a gradely do, John. Does yon lass treat yo’ so well every day?” “Noan so ill,” interpolated Jinny, “though ’tisn’t always bacon day. Now then, pull up, an’ we’s ax a blessin’.” Luke duly drew his chair to the table, but instead of folding his hands and bending his head after the manner of his comrade, stared at Miss Whiteside with a sarcastic smile. Jinny eyed him sharply, dumped a portion of bacon and potatoes on a plate, and remarking with some asperity— “Christians get sarved first in this cote,” handed it to John. Then, turning abruptly to Luke, and keeping her big spoon poised in the air, she added: “Mayhap yo’ didn’t know sayin’ grace at meal-times is one o’ my rules.” “Naw, I didn’t,” admitted Kershaw, still grinning. “Well, yo’ know now, then,” resumed Jinny, “an’ don’t yo’ be for forgettin’ it.” She helped him to his allotted portion, but, as Luke jealously imagined, curtailed his allowance of bacon fat, though she had generously spooned a large quantity of it into John’s plate. He made no remark, however, and fell to with appetite, remarking after a pause, that the folks at the public hadn’t sent up his little beer-barrel yet. “Thot’s another thing,” said his landlady, raising her eyes from her plate. “I ought haply to ha’ named it this morn, for ye’ll ha’ the trouble o’ takin’ back that order now. I don’t allow nobry to sup beer i’ this place.” “Eh! my word!” cried Luke, supplementing the ejaculation with an oath. “Yo’ want it all yo’r own way i’ this cote, I reckon.”