TO THE OLD PLACE FOR A HOLIDAY. 29 



with the butler and the coachman ; and we 

 all liked it, for they said there always 

 seemed something underhand about it ; and 

 so there is too, and I wonder masters don't 

 know better, and pay fair good wages, and 

 do away with these things. 'Tisn't in hu- 

 man nature to make bills small, when the 

 larger they are the better for him that pays 

 them. It can't be expected that a man that 

 gives nothing shall get orders, when ano- 

 ther man allows poundage, Give good full 

 wages, say I, and you'll get the best of ser- 

 vants, or else change them. 



After a while I asked the squire for a 

 holiday, to go and see my friends at the old 

 place ; and when he said " Yes," he told me 

 he should not find fault if I got a wife, pro- 

 vided she was the right sort ; for he said it 

 didn't look well for a man to live single 

 when he'd a comfortable place, and was a 

 little ahead of the world. I'd thought the 

 same thing ; and, to tell the truth, that was 

 just what I wanted the holiday for. 



Old friends at the old place shook hands 

 very hearty ; and Margaret, with all her fine 

 clothes, hadn't forgotten me ; and when we 

 shook hands, hers was so soft, I could but 



