304 A GAMEKEEPER'S NOTE-BOOK 



One old friend, old Henry, made up his mind to 



revolt against his wife's cupidity. Coming home 



one winter night after a shoot, at which he 



"What had been so lucky as to pocket a couple 



HAH 



was ^ P oun d s ^ e temptation to conceal them 

 Like" from his good dame was irresistible. He 

 buried the coins beside an old ash-stump in 

 one of his woods well beyond scenting distance 

 from his cottage. He knew from many a past ex- 

 perience that if he left a farthing in his pockets over- 

 night it would be gone before morning. That night 

 no sleep came to him. His conscience was troubled. 

 He turned and tossed; as his good- wife put it, "He 

 carried on like, so as he couldn't sleep hisself, nor 

 wouldn't let I." At last the good woman, who had 

 drawn his pockets in vain, put a straight question : 

 " 'Enry," said she, "what be up with } ee?" Then 

 'Enry confessed : he told how he had buried two 

 pounds beside the ash-stump. And then the two of 

 them rose, in the middle of that winter night, and 

 walked out into the wood until they stumbled on 

 the ash-stump, and they dug until they found the 

 money. As poor Henry used to say, in days when 

 no good- wife remained to take his gains, "That'll 

 tell ye a little what her was like." 



