Page 72 (1/1)

"Yes, I know Seth well, and his brother Ada man--sincere and without offence; and Adareat skill and knowledge and the kindness he shows to his brother and his parents"

"Perhaps you don't know the trouble that has just happened to them? Their father, Matthias Bede, was drowned in the Willow Brook last night, not far fro now to see Ada her hands and looking before her with pitying eyes, as if she saw the object of her sympathy "She will mourn heavily, for Seth has told o and see if I can give her any help"

As she rose and was beginning to fold up her work, Captain Donnithorne, having exhausted all plausible pretexts for re the milk-pans, came out of the dairy, followed by Mrs Poyser Mr Irwine now rose also, and, advancing towards Dinah, held out his hand, and said, "Good-bye I hear you are going away soon; but this will not be the last visit you will pay your aunt--so we shall ain, I hope"

His cordiality towards Dinah set all Mrs Poyser's anxieties at rest, and her face was brighter than usual, as she said, "I've never asked after Mrs Irwine and the Miss Irwines, sir; I hope they're as well as usual"

"Yes, thank you, Mrs Poyser, except that Miss Anne has one of her bad headaches to-day By the by, we all liked that nice crealad, indeed, sir It is but seldom I make one, but I reive my duty to her, and to Miss Kate and Miss Anne They've never been to look at ot some beautiful speckled chickens, black and white, as Miss Kate st hers"

"Well, I'll tell her; shehis horse

"Just ride slowly on, Irwine," said Captain Donnithorne, oing to speak to the shepherd about the whelps Good-bye, Mrs Poyser; tell your husband I shall co talk with him soon"

Mrs Poyser curtsied duly, and watched the two horses until they had disappeared fros and the poultry, and under the furious indignation of the bull-dog, who performed a Pyrrhic dance, that everyof his chain Mrs Poyser delighted in this noisy exit; it was a fresh assurance to her that the faruarded, and that no loiterers could enter unobserved; and it was not until the gate had closed behind the captain that she turned into the kitchen again, where Dinah stood with her bonnet in her hand, waiting to speak to her aunt, before she set out for Lisbeth Bede's cottage