94 Turnaside Cottage.

“ Tullo, Reuben! what’s up now ? you look down
in the mouth.”

“Nance is ill,” said 1; “she has taken to her bed,
and Sally says it will be no good to call in the
doctor, he can’t cure old age.”

Tommy nodded. “ Heard that up at shop. Who
have you got to help you ?”

“Nobody. Sally is in there, but

”

 

“She wouldn’t carn her living as a charwoman,”
put in Tommy. “ Give us hold of the pail, Reuben ;
Pima stunner at milking, and all that. TIL come
down and give you a look up most evenings about
this time, till old Nance is about again, if you don’t
object.”

“You are a stunner for kindness, Tommy,”
said I.

“Oh, its a lark tome. Any message to Rhyd-
ewm to night? Tm going in for granny.”

I was glad to send a message to Mr. Hurst that
T could not come, and Tommy promised also to go
to the club-doctor and tell him about Nance’s
illness ; it could do no harm, and he can’t want to
doctor me, he added, turning his merry brown face
towards me, as he sect off at a trot up the lane.

The doctor sent a bottle of stuff, and the next
time he was crossing the top of the lane he came
down to Turnaside. I held his horse while he went