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The exact locality of the fire was plain to him as he neared ho of the fla wood, and could sration

Of a sudden, a few yards ahead, within the coht-hand la in darkness the newco nearer, to screen thelare of the reflector

Manston saw that he was one of the villagers: a sinally, who had drunk himself down to a day-labourer and reputed poacher

'Hoy!' cried Manston, aloud, that the ht step aside out of the way

'Is that Mr Manston?' said the man

'Yes' 'Somebody ha' come to Carriford: and the rest of it may concern you, sir' 'Well, well' 'Did you expect Mrs Manston to-night, sir?' 'Yes, unfortunately she's co before this time, I suppose' The labourer leant his elbow upon the shaft of the gig and turned his face, pale and sweating from his late work at the fire, up to Manston's

'Yes, she did colad of--of--' 'What?' 'Glad of a trifle for bringen ye the news' 'Not a farthing! I didn't want your news, I knew she was coive me a shillen, sir?' 'Certainly not' 'Then will you lend me a shillen, sir? I be tired out, and don't knohat to do If I don't pay you back some day I'll be d--d' 'The devil is so cheated that perdition isn't worth a penny as a security' 'Oh!' 'Let o on,' said Manston

'Thy wife is _dead_; that's the rest o' the news,' said the labourer slowly He waited for a reply; none caet into thy house, the burnen roof fell in upon her before she could be called up, and she's a cinder, as thou'lt be some day' 'That will do, let me drive on,' said the steward calmly

Expectation of a concussion may be so intense that its failure strikes the brain with more force than its fulfilment The labourer sank back into the ditch Such a Cushi could not realize the possibility of such an un of the road, tied his horse, and ran on foot to the site of the fire