"I don't know what you mean by that," grumbled Dame Evans, by no means pleased with this unqualified praise of Winifred. "I am sure, the pains I had to wean her from her books and her dreaming, and make her do anything useful! And now to have her snatched away, and by a stranger, as it were! I must say, 'tis very hard!" Master Evans gave his wife a glance that she well understood as a signal to hold her tongue. "If the girl is alive, as I trust she may be, your ladyship is heartily welcome to her, and I hope she may repay your kindness towards her," continued her uncle. "'Tis not every great lady to whom I would trust her in these times, but you, my lady, and Sir Edward, are well-known: as befit no favorers of court follies and sins." So the matter was settled, to the great chagrin of Margery Evans, who would have liked at least to throw some difficulties in the way. But even this was not the worst. Simon Evans had been much surprised at the circumstance that his father had died without making a will. It was very unlike his ordinary business-like habits, which caused him to make a matter of conscience of doing everything in the right time and way. Magdalen Evans had always been a great favorite with her father, and with good reason. For, ever since her marriage, she had kept his house, looked after his interests, and waited upon him with more than the devotion of a daughter. And never by word or sign had she shown any consciousness of superiority to the family of the yeoman. Under these circumstances it seemed incredible to Simon Evans that his father should have left Magdalen and her child unprovided for; especially as his brother Gilbert was in the habit of putting his wages into his father's hands to be invested for the benefit of his family. No will, however, had been found, and Simon, an honest and upright though rather thick-headed man, had ever since been casting about in his mind for the best way to set right the injustice his father had committed. No sooner had the Evans family arrived at the farm, than Dame Margery began the necessary process of cleaning the long shut up house. And great was the rummaging and wonderful the objurgations bestowed upon the dirty sluts of maids, and the carelessness and neglect of poor sister Magdalen, who, it was plain to be seen, had never given the place a thorough cleaning since she went into it. It was well for Winifred's peace of mind that she was not present to hear the remarks made upon her mother's management.