Wully 



the morning. Tom swore that it was nothing 

 but a jealous conspiracy to rob him of Wully. 



" Wully sleeps i' the kitchen every night. 

 Never is oot till he's let to bide wi' the yowes. 

 Why, raon, he's wi' oor sheep the year round, 

 and never a hoof have ah lost." 



Tom became much excited over this abomin- 

 able attempt against Wully's reputation and life. 

 Jo and his partisans got equally angry, and it 

 was a wise suggestion of Huldah's that quieted 

 them. 



"Feyther," said she, " ah' 11 sleep i' the 

 kitchen the night. If Wully 'as ae way of get- 

 tin' oot ab'll see it, an' if he's no oot an' 

 sheep's killed on the country-side, we'll ha' 

 proof it's na Wully." 



That night Huldah stretched herself on the 

 settee and Wully slept as usual underneath the 

 table. As night wore on the dog became rest- 

 less. He turned on his bed and once or twice 

 got up, stretched, looked at Huldah and lay 

 down again. About two o'clock he seemed no 

 longer able to resist some strange impulse. He 

 arose quietly, looked toward the low window, 

 then at the motionless girl. Huldah lay still 



297 



