--an see for yoursen.'

He paused, his chest heaving, his eye fixed. Then, suddenly, he
broke out in a flood of passionate speech, still gripping David.

'_Passon Maine! Passon Maine!_--ha yo got her, th' owd woman?
Aye, aye--sure enough--'at's she--as yo're aw drivin afore
yo--hoontit like a wild beeast--wi her grey hair streamin, and her
hands tied--Ah!'--and the old man gave a wild cry, which startled
both the children to their feet. 'Conno yo hear her?--eh, but it's
enough to tear a body's heart out to hear an owd woman scream like
that!'

He stopped, trembling, and listened, his hand hollowed to his ear.
Louie looked at her brother and laughed nervously; but her little
hard face had paled. David laid hold of her to keep her quiet, and
shook himself free of 'Lias. But 'Lias took no notice of them now
at all, his changed seer's gaze saw nothing but the distance and
the pool.

'Are yo quite _sure_ it wor her, Passon?' he went on,
appealingly. 'She's nobbut owd, an it's a far cry fro her bit
cottage to owd Needham's Farm. An th' chilt might ha deed, and t'
cattle might ha strayed, and t' geyats might ha opened o'
theirsels! Yo'll not dare to speak agen _that_. They _might_?
Ay, ay, we aw know t' devil's strong; but she's eighty-one year
coom Christmas--an an--. Doan't, _doan't_ let t' childer see,
nor t' yoong gells! If yo let em see sich seets they'll breed
yo wolves, not babes! Ah!'