My Master. 77

terrible fond of me. Why, you could get out and
in as you pleased, and nobody know.”

“No, I couldn't,” said I; “father keys the cow-
house door every night. And if I don’t get up in
time in the morning, Nance raps at the house wall
till I do. And she gives me such dreadful short
little bits of candle to go to bed by, I have no chance
to sit up doing my lessons.”

“J don’t know as I should ever count that much
privilege,” laughed Tommy. “I’m going to be a
soldicr, so where’s the good? But I don’t think
they'd take you.”

“Shan’t ask them,” said I; but I envied Tommy
his unvarying health and strong active frame. I
seldom felt quite up to my day’s work, light as that
work was; and the addition of the walk into
Rhydewm often tired me more than I cared to
confess, lest my father should put a stop to my
beloved lessons, which he grumbled at, as it was, for
taking up my time.

My task of tending Monna was taken from me
by changes that took place in the parish. Mr.
Prickard made a great stir about the common, and
got it enclosed and parcelled out to those who had
a claim on it. People said that he took most care
of himself in the whole affair ; and there were great

growlings about it. But my master said that the