throstle has had its neck wrung before now!"

Meanwhile Innocent had entered the farmhouse. Passing through the
hall, which,--unaltered since the days of its original building,--
was vaulted high and heavily timbered, she went first into the
kitchen to see Priscilla, who, assisted by a couple of strong
rosy-cheeked girls, did all the housework and cooking of the farm.
She found that personage rolling out pastry and talking volubly as
she rolled:

"Ah! YOU'LL never come to much good, Jenny Spinner," she cried.
"What with a muck of dirty dishes in one corner and a muddle of
ragged clouts in another, you're the very model of a wife for a
farm hand! Can't sew a gown for yerself neither, but bound to send
it into town to be made for ye, and couldn't put a button on a
pair of breeches for fear of 'urtin' yer delicate fingers! Well!
God 'elp ye when the man comes as ye're lookin' for! He'll be a
fool anyhow, for all men are that,--but he'll be twice a fool if
he takes you for a life-satchel on his shoulders!"

Jenny Spinner endured this tirade patiently, and went on with the
washing-up in which she was engaged, only turning her head to look
at Innocent as she appeared suddenly in the kitchen doorway, with
her hair slightly dishevelled and the wreath of wild roses
crowning her brows.

"Priscilla, where's Dad?" she asked.

"Lord save us, lovey! You gave me a real scare coming in like that
with them roses on yer head like a pixie out of the woods! The