But then he had his work, and fear of
Sophia's inquisitiveness, if she were much
away with no errand to show, made Patty
fearful of leaving home for long. Sophia
was so sharp. She saw so much and thought
of so much more. And in little Patty Winter-
head there was no room for a lia



THE FBOMISB. 247

At Charterhouse, as in all the homesteads
upon the hill, when there was no company
folk went to bed by twilight, and got up
with the lark. So fully did they follow the
old proverb of "early to bed and early to
rise," that in winter-time more candle was
burnt before daylight than after dark-night.
Now the hay was carried and the oats just
coming fit to cut. John Winterhead, sitting
in the porch at dusk, already noted that the
days began to draw in. He was wont to fill
just one pipe more — that smoked, they went
to bed. Then Patty listened until the house
was still, and trembling lest a hinge might
grate or creak, she crept down barefoot with
her shoes in her hand, softly drew the door
behind her and ran out But the secret
weighed heavy upon her heart Only when
she was safe within the cave, with many
hours before dawn, could she cast aside her
care and feel the full happiness of his love.
" I've a-done all that you wanted me," she
went on in a low voice. " I've a-come night
after night. If anything should happen to
make ee change to me, I could never live.
I*d come here all by myzelf, so as to be lost,
an' lie down an' die."

" I could never change, not even to love ee



248 TWO MBN O' MBNDIP.
