"I was just thinkin', miss, if it's all t' same to you," continued the farmer, "'at it 'ud be a charity to let Martha an' her little lass have your cottage. You see----" "But you forget they are only for widows, Mr. Goodenough," I interrupted. He glanced quickly at Philip. "They haven't told you then, miss? Well, it's out now. Martha is a widow. Barjona got clear by t' skin of his teeth, but Roger an' t' dog were killed on t' spot; an' though it sounds a 'ard sayin', it's no loss to Martha an' Lucy. Are we to let 'em have t' cottage, think ye?" I agreed, of course; but the tragic death of Roger had saddened me, and as usual Reuben noticed my clouded expression. "Now don't you take on, miss. You'll 'ave to leave these things to them above. After all, as t' Owd Book says, 'It's an ill wind 'at blows nobody iny good,' an' t' storm has blown you two into one another's arms an' Martha into t' cottage, in a manner o' speakin'; so we must look on t' cheerful side. However, I must be stirring." He raised his cap and left us, and I turned to the Cynic. "Philip," I said, and I know the tears filled my eyes, "the sight of the cottage brings back to me sweet memories of dear old Mother Hubbard. How delighted she would have been to welcome us! How pleased she would have been if she had known!" "She did know, Grace," he replied. "I called to see her when you were away, and the good soul spoke to me about you in such loving terms that I could not help making her my confidante; and do you know, she asked if she might kiss me before I left. She hoped to live to see the consummation, but if that were denied her she bade me tell you how earnestly she had prayed for our happiness, and how fervently she had longed to see us united." Now I have reached the very last line in my book. How could I end it better than with Mother Hubbard's blessing? THE END ====================================================================== _SOME EARLY PRESS OPINIONS_ WINDYRIDGE _Pall Mall Gazette_.--"'Windyridge' can be heartily recommended." _Saturday Review_.--"Oh, 'Windyridge' were paradise enow." _Academy_.--"'Windyridge'is an arresting, fascinating book, one to read and read again." _Atheneum_.--"There is a quaint charm about this story of a Yorkshire village." _Nation_.--"'Windyridge' is a book that should give genuine pleasure to tens of thousands of people." _Methodist Recorder_.--"A White Novel.... This book has real vital qualities and we can heartily recommend it." _Outlook_.--"A revelation of how much pleasure can be got from the perusal of a sincere and simple description of the real things of life." _Bookman_.--"The story has an atmosphere and a curious charm of its own that are not easy to define; there is a sort of dream-magic about it; a delicate lavender-like fragrance."