A Lucky Magpie 177 



gentleman and I were left alone. I won't tell 

 you all that passed," said the farmer tenderly, 

 "it was only the first of a long string of kind- 

 nesses he has done me, and made me the 

 happy old fellow I am. He got it all out of 

 me by degrees. He heard all about Mag and 

 Nelly, and all about Miss Pringle and the 

 robbery. He took particular notice of Mag, 

 and seemed very curious to know all about 

 his ways. And when he went away he told 

 the master to treat me as usual till he came 

 back the next day. 



"And now I've nearly done my yarn," said 

 the farmer ; " she must be tired of Nelly and 

 me by this time," he added, looking at his wife, 

 but it was getting too dark for me to see the 

 twinkle that I know now was in his eyes as 

 he said it. 



" My gentleman came early, and to my 

 astonishment, both I and Mag were put into 

 carriage, and he drove us away. Still 

 more taken back was I when we stopped at 

 Uncle Jonas's, and out came Miss Nelly and 

 climbed into the seat next me. We were 



N 



