HUMPHRIES REAPPEARS. 423 



you, ma'am," said Jack, whereupon Humphries 

 swore that he would make him prove his 

 words. 



" I'll do that without the making," said Jack. 

 " You rob your master of his barley meal to 

 fat your pigs on ; you make me take home to 

 your house a bushel of barley meal, and a 

 bushel and a half of your master's meal 

 from the meal that the bacon hogs are fatten- 

 ing on here." 



On hearing this, Mrs. England began to 

 question Humphries a little as to what barley 

 meal he had. " Where do you get it from," 

 said she, " the mill, I suppose ? " 



"Yes, ma'am," said Humphries. 



" Then, of course, you have your bills ? " 



"Oh, yes, ma'am." 



tl Well, when you return from your dinner, 

 just bring the bills for satisfaction's sake." 



" Yes, ma'am, I will." When he came back 

 from dinner, however, he brought no bills, but 

 lots of excuses ; he had mislaid or lost them, 

 his wife had lit the fire with them, at any rate 

 he couldn't find them. 



