From where she sat she could not see even the star that had glimmered on her as she crossed the common. She heard the crackling of the gravel of the path under a foot, and a figure passed the porch door, then came back, and stood looking at her. She recognized the sexton. "Who are you there?" he asked. She answered him. "Do you want to see where Jonas is laid? Come along with me, and I'll show you." She shrank back. "He's where the Kinks all are. You must look and see that it is all right. I haven't been paid my fee. Them Rocliffes buttoned up their pockets. They sed it was for you to pay. But I hear they have put their hands on the property. They thought you would be hanged, but as you ain't they'll have to turn out, and you'll have to pay me for buryin' of Jonas, I reckon." The old fellow was much bowed, and hard of hearing. He came into the porch, laid hold of Mehetabel, and said, "I'm goin to lock the gate. You must turn out; I can't let you bide in the churchyard till you come to bide there forever. Be that your baby in your arms?" "Yes, Mr. Linegar, it is." "It don't make much noise. Ain't a very lively young Radical." "Would you like to see my baby?" asked Mehetabel, timidly, and she uncovered the sleeping child. The sexton bowed over the little face, and straightening himself as much as he could, said, "It seems not unlike as that the child be comin' to me." "What do you mean?" Her heart stood still. "If you hadn't showed it me as alive, I'd ha' sed it were dead, or dyin'. Well, come and tell me where it's to be laid. Shall it go beside Jonas?" "Mister Linegar!" Mehetabel stood still trembling. "Why do you say that? My babe is well. He is sleeping very sound." "He looks won'erful white." "That's because of the twilight. You fancy he is white. He has the most beautiful little color in his lips and cheeks, just like the crimson on a daisy." "Well, come along, and choose a place. It'll save comin' again. I'll let you see where Jonas lies. And if you want to put up a monument, that's half-a-guinea to the passon and half-a-crown to me. There, do you see that new grave? I've bound it down wi' withies, and laid the turf nice over it. It's fine in the sun, and a healthy situation," continued the sexton, pointing to a new grave. "This bit of ground is pretty nigh taken up wi' the folks of the Punch-Bowl, the Boxalls, and the Nashes, and the Snellings, and the Kinks, and the Rocliffes. We let 'em lie to themselves when dead, as they kep' to theirselves when livin'. Where would you like to lie, you and the baby--you may just as well choose now--it may save trouble. I'm gettin' old, and I don't go about more than I can help. "If anything were to happen, Mr. Linegar, then let us be laid--me and my darling--on the other side of the church, where my father's grave is." "That's the north side--never gets no sun. I don't reckon it over healthy."