CHAPTER V.

MISS ANNE.


'So thee's the only master here,' said Tim when he came up the hill next
evening, according to his promise, to help Stephen in his garden.

'And I'm the missis,' chimed in Martha, 'but I can't say how long it may
be afore we have to pack off;' and she gave Tim a very long account of
the master's visit the day before, finishing her description of Stephen's
conduct in a tone of mingled reproach and admiration: 'And he never said
a single curse at them!'

'Not when they were out of hearing?' exclaimed Tim.

'I couldn't,' answered Stephen; 'I knew what I ought to do then, if I
wasn't quite sure about fighting thee, Tim. My chapter says, "Swear not
at all;" and "Let your communication be Yea, yea; Nay, nay; for
whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil."'

'What's the meaning of that?' asked Tim, opening his eyes widely.

'Father said it meant I was to stand to my word like a man, but not swear
about it. If I said Ay, to mean ay; and if I said No, to mean no, and
stick to it.'