‘Please God,’ returned William deliberately, ‘I could buy groceries, and bits o’ tapes, and thread, and what I thought would sell, and I could begin hawking at first.’

‘And you know, sir,’ interposed Grace, ‘you’re sure William would neither drink, nor idle, nor waste, in any way. He’s my husband, and I shouldn’t praise him; but I will say there’s not a soberer, honester man i’ England nor he is.’

‘Well, I’ll speak to one or two friends, and I think I can promise to let him have \cp\5 in a day or two: as a loan, ye mind, not a gift; he must pay it back.’

‘I understand, sir: I’m quite agreeable to that.’

‘Meantime, there’s a few shillings for you, Grace, just to keep the pot boiling till custom comes. Now, bairns, stand up in a row and say your catechism while your mother goes and buys some dinner: for you’ve not had much to-day, I’ll be bound. You begin, Ben. What is your name?’

Mr. Hall stayed till Grace came back; then he hastily took his leave, shaking hands with both Farren and his wife: just at the door, he said to them a few brief but very earnest words of religious consolation and exhortation: with a mutual ‘God bless you, sir!’ ‘God bless you, my friends!’ they separated.