The Old Umbrella. 21

ding, Ben,’ said the good woman,
‘for ye know very well that I’ve
always counted your folk just the
same as My Own ; but what am I to
do about the washing at the great
house? It’s to be done so very par-
ticular to-day, the housekeeper says 5
and if I don’t go to it, why I shall
lose the work.’

‘And I wish, with all my heart, I
could afford thou should’st lose it.
I'd rather be slaving myself, than
have thee slave and leave the poor
bairns so much alone,’ returned
honest Ben with a heavy sigh. ‘And
that neither one of us should be able
to go up and see after the old people
too, it do seem hard.’