MY CURE FOR THEM. 31 



have to put up with a good deal ; for the 

 master's an obstinate man, and, right or 

 wrong, he will have his way." 



" I don't mind that," said she, " if I can 

 but be comfortable, and be let do my work; 

 but you'll see me again before you go, 

 and then you can tell me more about it ;" 

 and she put out her hand, and said, " Good- 

 bye." 



" But," said I, " there's no hurry ; this 

 hard hand of yours has done enough for to- 

 day ;" and I slipped the ring on her finger, 

 and said, " If you're of my mind, we'll make 

 another move with the old washing-tubs 

 and the lines and the pegs ; and for fear 

 you lose the place, say you'll take it, and 

 I'll soon show you the way." 



'Tisn't worth telling; fbr nothing's easier 

 than getting married, if you go the right 

 way about it. And though the girls in the 

 village said I was taking her home to scare 

 the birds off my seeds, I knew what I'd got, 

 and so did they, and none better than Mar- 

 garet. But the less said the better; only 

 I'd have young men know, that there's more 

 truth than they think for in the old saying, 

 " Fine feathers make fine birds." Ay, too 



