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"Nay, Martin," says she softly "I would have you forgetilance at me, flushed all the hotter

"Why then," says she, "You must not coddle and cosset me because I am a woman--"

"Never," quoth I, "'tis not my nature to do so"

"And yet you do, Martin"

"As how?"

"O in h and hard and not mine? Nature hath formed me woman but Fate hath made me your comrade, Martin And how may I be truly your comrade except I share your toil?"

Nohen I would have answered I could not, and turning froleah a mist as it were

"Surely," says I at last, "O surely never had man so sweet and true a comrade! And I so rude and unlovely--and in all ways so unworthy"

"But you are not, Martin, you are not!"

"Aye, but I a, you that are so pure, so saintly--"

"Saintly? O Martin!" and here she laughs albeit a little trehty hungry and yearn for o and eat"

But on our e turned aside to see if we had any fortune with h the place we heard a shuffling and snorting, and presently discovered a goat fast by the neck and half-choked, and beside her a little kid pitifully a-bleating

"O Martin!" criesthe little creature whiles I secured the da, strove et it upon my shoulders and thus burdened set off ho the kid clasped to her bosom, and it very content there and s," says row ta of our flock: our cheese and butter shall not be long a-lacking now, comrade"

"You must fashion me a press, Martin"

"And a churn," says I

"Nay I can h with one of our pipkins"

"But a churn would be easier for you, so a churn you shall have, of sorts"

This evening after supper, sitting by our fire, my lady (and despite her weariness) was merrier than her wont and very full of plans for the future, deciding for me what furniture I must construct next, as chairs (two) a cupboard with shelves, and where these should stand when oats I , and my dairy shall be our larder, aye, and stillroorowing ood herbs and sirow into a hoht by our own hands, and this is a sweet thought"