Well, master, you know yoursen you'd hev
thought it right to be civil to men as hed helped •
you out o' Billy Britton's clutches, and when
Todd said, ' Come and hev a glass at t' " Ring



SARAH AND STEVE'S TROUBLES. 21 3

o' Bells," Steve,' I said, 'And thank'ee both,'
and went/'

" What time on Christmas-eve was that ? "
" I don't know exactly, but soon afterwards I
heard t' clock in t' " Ring o' Bells *' strike seven,
and I said, * I hev to get home, lads, now,' and
in a bit I left them. But when I put my hand
in my pocket my four shillings were gone ; and
I thought to mysen. There's no use going
home now. Joyce will cry and scold, and
Sarah's still white face I can't abear to see. So
I crept in among Squire Thornbury's hay, and
slept till Christmas afternoon. Then I went up
to t' big house and got a real good dinner, and
t' butler hed a fiddle, and I played for 'em till
dark ; and perhaps I hed too much spiced ale,
for when I passed t' " Ring o' Bells " again I saw
Todd and Yates still drinking there ; and they
shouted to me, and said, *Come in for thy
Christmas cup,' and while I was drinking it t
police came and took us all three up. T' land-
lady swore I'd come in t' night before with
Todd and Yates, and that was true enough;
but it looked bad for me, and so I hed to come
here."



214 BETWEEN TWO LOVES.
