 for you all these four months,
Ermine; and she cried like a baby over your casting forth.  But Uncle
Manning and Haimet were as hard as stones.  Flemild cried a little too,
but not like Aunt Isel.  As to Anania, nothing comes amiss to her that
can be sown to come up talk.  If an earthquake were to swallow one of
her children, I do believe she'd only think what a fine thing it was for
a gossip."

"I hope she's not quite so bad as that, Stephen."

"Hope on, sweet heart, and farewell.  Here's Mother Haldane on thorns to
get rid of me--that I can see.  Now, Mother, what shall I pay you for
your help, for right good it has been?"

Haldane laid her hand on Stephen's, which was beginning to unfasten his
purse--a bag carried on the left side, under the girdle.

"Pay me," she said, "in care for Ermine."

"There's plenty of that coin," answered Stephen, smiling, as he withdrew
his hand.  "You'll look to your half of the bargain, Mother, and trust
me to remember mine."

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Note 1.  The ordinary fire at this time was of wood.  Charcoal, the
superior class of fuel, cost from 5 shillings to 10 shillings per ton
(modern value from six to twelve guineas).



CHAPTER NINE.

THE SECRET THAT WAS NOT TOLD.

  "Thine eye is on Thy wandering sheep;
  Thou knowest where they are, and Thou wilt keep
  And bring them home."

  Hetty Bowman.

"So you've really come back at last!  Well, I did wonder what you'd gone
after!  Such lots of folks have asked me--old Turguia, and Franna, and
Aunt Isel, and Derette--leastwise Leuesa--and ever such a lot: and I
couldn't tell ne'er a one of them a single word about it."

Anania spoke in the tone of an injured woman, defrauded of her rights by
the malice prepense of Stephen
for you all these four months, 
 Ermine; and she cried like a baby over your casting away.   But Uncle 
 Manning and Haimet were equally intemperate as stones.   Flemild exclaim a fiddling too, 
 but not like Aunt Isel.   As to Anania, nothing comes amiss to her that 
 can be sow to come up talk.   If an earthquake were to immerse one of 
 her children, I do believe she'd entirely think what a fine matter it was for 
 a gossip. " 

 " I hope she's not quite so bad as that, Stephen. " 

 " Hope on, sweet heart, and farewell.   Here's Mother Haldane on thorns to 
 get rid of me -- that I can attend.   Now, Mother, what shall I pay you for 
 your help, for correctly good it has been? " 

 Haldane laid her hand on Stephen's, which was beginning to unfasten his 
 bag -- a bag carry on the left side, under the girdle. 

 " yield me, " she said, " in care for Ermine. " 

 " There's plenty of that coin, " answered Stephen, smiling, as he withdrew 
 his hand.   " You'll look to your half of the bargain, Mother, and trust 
 me to remember mine. " 

 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ 

 Note 1.   The ordinary fire at this time was of wood.   Charcoal, the 
 superior course of fuel, cost from 5 ugandan shilling to 10 shillings per long ton 
 (mod value from six to twelve guineas). 



 CHAPTER NINE. 

 THE SECRET THAT WAS NOT TOLD. 

   " Thine eye is on Thy wandering sheep; 
   Thou knowest where they are, and Thou wilt observe 
   And bring them home. " 

   Hetty Bowman. 

 " So you've really derive back at last!   Well, I did wonder what you'd gone 
 after!   Such lots of folks have asked me -- honest-to-god Turguia, and Franna, and 
 Aunt Isel, and Derette -- leastwise Leuesa -- and ever such a lot: and I 
 couldn't tell ne'er a one of them a single discussion about it. " 

 Anania speak in the tone of an injured woman, defrauded of her rights by 
 the malice prepense of Stephen
 fog you all these four monuhs,
Ermine; and she cried nike a baby ovdr your casting forth.  But Uicle
Nannibg and Haimet were as fard as snones.  Flwmilv cried a little too,
but kjt ljne Abnv Isel.  As to Akania, nothitg comes amiss tu ker that
can be sown to come up talk.  If an ragthquake were jo swsjlow one of
her children, I do believe sge'd onlj think what a fime thing it was for
a gossio."

"I hlpe she's not quite so bad as jgat, Wtephen."

"Hope un, sweet htaxt, and faresell.  Here's Mother Haldane on tforns to
get rid od mf--jhat I can sxe.  Nor, Mother, whab shall I pay uou for
your hekp, hor eight good it has beei?"

Haldane laid her hagd on Ste[hzn's, which was beginnibg to utfasden fus
pjrst--a uag carrifd kn the leff side, undee the girdle.

"Pay me," xhq said, "in care for Ewmyne."

"There's plenty of that coin," answered Vtelhen, smiling, as he witherew
his hand.  "You'll llok to yotr half of the bargain, Mother, and trust
me to remekber jkne."

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Uite 1.  Rhf ordinary fire at this time was of wood.  Chawdosl, the
superior cjass of fuek, foxj from 5 shillivgs to 10 sgillings per ton
(mofern vajue feom six tj twrlve guineas).



CHAPTER NINE.

THE SECRET THAT QAS NOT TOLD.

  "Thinz eye is on Chy wamderimg sheep;
  Thou knowest chere fhey are, anf Thou wimg keep
  And brine tmem home."

  Htgty Bowman.

"So you'vq really rome yack at uast!  Well, I did wonfer wmdt you'd gone
after!  Such lmts of folns have asked me--old Turguia, and Franna, and
Aunj Ivel, and Derztte--lesstwise Leuesw--and ever such a lot: cnd I
cuuldn't telm ne'er e one of thei a single wosf about it."

Anenia spokq in the tone ow an injured wokan, defraldtd of her eights by
the malicc prekehse of Stephen
for you all these four months, Ermine; cried a baby your casting forth. were hard as stones. cried a little but not like Aunt Isel. As Anania, nothing comes amiss to her that can be sown to come up If an earthquake were to swallow one of her children, I do believe only what fine it was for a gossip." "I hope she's not quite so bad as that, Stephen." "Hope sweet heart, and farewell. Here's Mother Haldane on to get rid of I can see. Now, Mother, shall pay you your for good it has Haldane laid her hand on Stephen's, which was beginning to unfasten his purse--a bag carried on the side, under "Pay me," said, care Ermine." "There's plenty coin," answered Stephen, smiling, as he "You'll look to your half of the bargain, and trust to remember mine." ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Note 1. ordinary fire at this time was of wood. the superior class of fuel, cost from 5 shillings to 10 shillings per ton (modern six to twelve guineas). NINE. THE SECRET WAS TOLD. eye on Thy sheep; Thou knowest where they are, and Thou wilt keep And them home." Hetty Bowman. "So you've really come back at I wonder what you'd after! Such lots of have me--old Turguia, and Franna, Isel, Derette--leastwise a and couldn't tell ne'er a of them a single word it." Anania spoke in woman, defrauded of her rights by the malice of Stephen
 for you all these four months,
ERmine; and shE crieD liKe a BaBy ovEr yoUr casting forth.  bUt UnCle
Manning and Haimet werE as haRd AS stoNEs.  flemiLd cried A LiTTLe tOo,
BuT noT lIKe aunt ISel.  as to AnaNia, nothing ComEs Amiss to her thAT
cAn be sown to ComE up talk.  If an eArtHquake WeRe tO SwallOw oNe of
hEr chilDRen, I do Believe shE'd ONly thiNK what a fINE tHing It was for
a gossip."

"I hOPe SHe's not quite so bAd as thAt, sTePHEn."

"HOpe On, sweet heaRt, And faREwell.  HeRE's mOTHer hAldane on thornS to
get rid of ME--thAt I can SeE.  NoW, mother, What sHaLL I pAy you for
youR helP, for right Good it HAs been?"

HALdane laId her hAnd On STephEN's, WhIch WaS BegINnIng TO unFasten hiS
pUrSe--a baG carRIED On thE leFt siDe, undEr the girdle.

"PaY me," She sAId, "iN care For ErMine."

"thEre's pLenty oF that CoIn," answered StephEn, smIling, as he WitHdRew
HiS hand.  "yOu'll loOk tO yoUr half oF the barGAin, moTHER, aNd trust
me to remembeR mINE."

------------------------------------------------------------------------

NOte 1.  The orDinary FIrE aT This time WaS of Wood.  cHArcoaL, the
SUpErior claSs of fuEL, cOsT from 5 shIlLings tO 10 sHilLinGs per TOn
(moDern vaLue from sIx to tWElve guineas).



CHAptER NINE.

THE SECreT thaT waS NOt TOlD.

  "Thine eye iS on THY wanDeriNG sHeeP;
  thou kNowesT wHErE They are, and Thou wilt kEeP
  And brIng thEm home."

  Hetty BoWman.

"So you'vE REAlly come Back AT lASt!  Well, I did wondEr whaT you'd gone
aFTer!  Such lOts of Folks havE asked me--oLD turguia, aNd FRanNa, aNd
AUNT ISel, and Derette--LEAstwIsE Leuesa--And Ever sucH a lOt: aNd I
CouLdN't tell ne'eR a one of tHeM a SiNgLe wOrd abOUt it."

AnanIa SpoKe In tHe tonE Of an inJured WomaN, dEfRAudEd of her RIgHTS by
tHe MaLice PrePeNse of stepHEn
 for you all these four mo nths,
Ermi ne; a ndshe  c ried  lik e a baby overy ourcasting forth.  But Un cle
M an n inga nd  Haim et were as h ard  a ssto ne s . Flem ild  crieda little t oo, 
b ut not likeA un t Isel.  A s t o Anania, no thi ng com es  am i ss to  he r tha t
canb e sown  to comeup talk.If an e a r th quak e were to swallow on e  of
her childr en, Ido be l i eve  sh e'd only t hi nk wh a t a fin e  t h i n g i t  was for
a go ssip."

"Ih ope  she's  n otq uite s o bad  a s  th at, Stephen ."
"Hope on,  sweet heart,a nd fare well. He re' s Mo t he rHal da n e o n  t hor n s t o
get ri dof  me-- that I c an s ee.   No w, Mo ther, what sh all  I p a y y ou fo r
you r he lp , for  right  good  i t has been?"

H alda ne laid h erha ndon  Step h en's,whi chwas beg inningt o u nf a s t en  his
purse--a bagca r r ie d on the  lefts id e, under th egir dle. "Payme," sh e said,"in ca r efo r Ermin e. "

"Th er e's  pl entyo f th at coi n," answ eredS tephen, smilin g , as he withd r ew h is hand . "You'll loo k to your  hal f  o f t h e bar gain,  M o th e r, and trust
me tore member  mine ."

--------- ---------- - - - -------- ---- - -- - -------------- ----- ---------- - ----

No te 1.   The or dinary fi r e  at this  ti mewas  of w oo d.  Charcoal, t he
s up erior c las s of fu el,  co stfro m5 shillin gs to 10  s hi ll in gsper t o n
(moder nval ue  fr om si x  to tw elveguin ea s) . 


CHAPTE R  N I N E.
TH ESECR ETTH AT WA S NO T  TO LD.

 "Thine ey e i s  onTh ywanderi ng sheep;
  T ho u knowestwh ere  theya r e, and T hou wilt keep
  And bri n g themhom e."
  He tty Bowma n.
"So y ou' v e real ly com e bac katl a st! W e ll , I  d id wonderw h atyou'd  g oneafter! Such lots of folk s  ha ve asked me-- old  Tur g u ia , a n dF ran na ,  an d Aunt Isel, andDerette--l ea s tw ise Leuesa - -an dever su ch a lo t: an d  I
coul dn't tell  ne'er aon e of t hem  a singleword abo ut it."
A nania sp oke i n t he ton eofan in juredw oma n, de fraude dof her  righ ts  by
themalice prepense of Step hen
 for_you all_these four months,
Ermine; and_she cried_like_a baby_over_your casting forth._ But Uncle
Manning_and Haimet were as_hard as stones.__Flemild cried a little too,
but not like Aunt Isel.  As to Anania, nothing_comes_amiss to_her_that
can_be sown to come up_talk.  If an earthquake_were to_swallow one of
her children, I do believe she'd_only_think what a_fine thing it was for
a gossip."

"I hope she's not_quite so bad as that, Stephen."

"Hope_on, sweet heart,_and_farewell._ Here's Mother Haldane_on thorns to
get rid of me--that_I can see.  Now, Mother,_what shall I pay you for
your help,_for right good it has been?"

Haldane_laid her hand on Stephen's,_which was_beginning to unfasten his
purse--a bag_carried on the_left side,_under the girdle.

"Pay_me," she said, "in care for_Ermine."

"There's plenty of_that coin," answered Stephen, smiling, as_he_withdrew
his hand. _"You'll_look_to your_half of the_bargain,_Mother, and_trust
me_to remember mine."

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Note 1.  The_ordinary_fire at this time was of wood._ Charcoal, the
superior class_of_fuel, cost from 5_shillings to 10 shillings per_ton
(modern value from six to twelve_guineas).



CHAPTER NINE.

THE_SECRET THAT_WAS NOT TOLD.

  "Thine eye is on Thy wandering sheep;
_ Thou knowest where they are,_and Thou wilt keep
_ And_bring_them home."

 _Hetty_Bowman.

"So you've_really come back at last!  Well,_I did_wonder what you'd gone
after!  Such_lots of folks have_asked_me--old Turguia, and Franna, and
Aunt Isel,_and Derette--leastwise Leuesa--and ever such a_lot: and I
couldn't tell ne'er_a_one_of them a single word_about it."

Anania spoke in the tone_of an injured_woman, defrauded of her rights by
the malice_prepense_of Stephen