not had my share o' the paper by a good deal, what with my weak
sight, and people coming so soon for en. I am a poor put-upon soul;
but my "Duty of Man" will be left to me when the newspaper is gone.'
And he sank into his chair with an air of exhaustion.

Anne said that she did not wish to take the paper if he had not done
with it, and that she was really later in the week than usual, owing
to the soldiers.

'Soldiers, yes--rot the soldiers! And now hedges will be broke, and
hens' nests robbed, and sucking-pigs stole, and I don't know what
all. Who's to pay for't, sure? I reckon that because the soldiers
be come you don't mean to be kind enough to read to me what I hadn't
time to read myself.'

She would read if he wished, she said; she was in no hurry. And
sitting herself down she unfolded the paper.

'"Dinner at Carlton House"?'

'No, faith. 'Tis nothing to I.'

'"Defence of the country"?'

'Ye may read that if ye will. I hope there will be no billeting in
this parish, or any wild work of that sort; for what would a poor
old lamiger like myself do with soldiers in his house, and nothing
to feed 'em with?'

Anne began reading, and continued at her task nearly ten minutes,