will be as much her murderer as if you had chopped her down with
a hatchet."

The plain speaking of the doctor was the terror of his parish
patients, who nevertheless respected him for the honest truths he
told them. He himself used to say that his plain speaking saved him
a world of trouble, for that his patients took good care never to
send for him except when he was really wanted.

The next day Mary Powlett was unable to go off as usual to Marsden
as George was in great pain from his scald. She went down to church,
however, in the evening with her father, Bill Swinton taking her
place by the bedside of the boy.

"Thou hast been a-sitting by moi bedside hours every day, Polly,"
he said, "and it's moi turn now to take thy place here. Jack ha'
brought over all moi books, for oi couldn't make shift to carry
them and use moi crutches, and oi'll explain all the pictures to
Jarge jest as Maister Ned explained 'em to oi."

The sight of the pictures reconciled George to Polly's departure,
and seeing the lad was amused and comfortable, she started with
Luke, Dick taking his place near the bed, where he could also enjoy
a look at the pictures.

"Did you notice that pretty girl with the sweet voice in the aisle
in a line with us, father," Ned asked that evening, "with a great,
strong, quiet looking man by the side of her?"

"Yes, lad, the sweetness of her singing attracted my attention,