BETTY'S INTERVENTION 45 



the cluster of bees hanging to the branch, and 

 cried, '* Here they are, faither, fastened on the 

 old medlar-tree." 



**Th — that's lucky, lad," replied the father 

 breathlessly as his face showed above the hedge, 

 '* I feared we'd seed the laist of 'em. Go and 

 fetch a skep and my hat, and don't forget the 

 bellows, for I've hardly a brith left in me. But, 

 dang me," he added angrily, on sighting the lane 

 in the barley, **what a mess they badgers have 

 made of the corn. It's all through that theer 

 tree, and down it shall come." 



** What, Johanna's tree ? Cut down Johanna's 

 tree? You'll do nawthin' of the kind, maister. 

 'Twas her pride, good soul, so I've heered granny 

 say. Cut it down ? Why, 'twould be enough to 

 make her turn in her grave, and perhaps visit 

 'ee, who do knaw.^ And only think a minit, 

 you'd have lost that swarm of bees, and a 

 handsome swarm it is. Iss fay, and worth a bra 

 bit; *a swarm of bees in June is worth a silver 

 spoon,' and you'd have lost it if the tree hadn't 

 been theere." 



** Well, well, Betty, most likely you're right. I 

 never looked at it that way." 



**Ah, maister, it don't take much to make 

 people forget their obligations." 



'' Now, now, Betty, have done, theere's a good 



