There was a little smouldering smoke; but the rain had checked the fire, and though the roof of the house was gone and it looked frightfully dreary and wretched, the walls were still standing and the pigs were grunting about the place. However, Steadfast did not stop to see what was left within, as he knew Ben would be crying for food, but he carried his foaming pail back to Goody Grace's as fast as he could, after turning out the cows on the common, not even stopping to count the sheep that were straggling about. His sisters were watching anxiously from the door of Goody Grace's hovel, and eagerly cried out "Where's Jeph?" Then he had to tell them that Jeph was gone for a soldier, to have his revenge for his father's death. "Jeph gone too!" said poor Patience, looking pale. "Oh, what shall we ever do?" "He did not think of that, I'll warrant, the selfish fellow," said Goody Grace. "That's the way with lads, nought but themselves." "It was because of what they did to poor father," replied Stead. "And if he, or the folks he is gone to, call that the Christian religion, 'tis more than I do!" rejoined the old woman. "I wish I had met him, I'd have given him a bit of my mind about going off to his revenge, as he calls it, without ever a thought what was to become of his own flesh and blood here." "He did say I might go to service (not that I shall), and that some one would take you in for the cattle's sake." "O don't do that, Stead," cried Patience, "don't let us part!" He had only just time to answer, "No such thing," for people were coming about them by this time, one after another emerging from the cottages that stood around the village green. The women were all hotly angry with Jeph for going off and leaving his young brothers and sisters to shift for themselves. "He was ever an idle fellow," said one, "always running after the soldiers and only wanting an excuse." "Best thing he could do for himself or them," growled old Green. "Eh! What, Gaffer Green! To go off without a word or saying by your leave to his poor little sister before his good father be cold in his grave," exclaimed a whole clamour of voices. "Belike he knew what a clack of women's tongues there would be, and would fain be out of it," replied the old man shrewdly.