grateful for some unexplained benefits received from Ralph. "Atweel,"
Wilson would say, with his eyes on the ground,--"atweel I lo'e the
braw chiel as 'twere my ain guid billie."

Ralph paid no heed to the brotherly protestations of his admirer, and
exchanged only such words with him as their occupations required. Old
Angus, however, was not so passive an observer of his new and
unlooked-for housemate. "He's a good for nought sort of a fellow,
slenken frae place to place wi' nowt but a sark to his back," Angus
would say to his wife. Mr. Wilson's physical imperfections were an
offence in the dalesman's eyes: "He's as widderful in his wizzent old
skin as his own grandfather." Angus was not less severe on Wilson's
sly smoothness of manner. "Yon sneaking old knave," he would say, "is
as slape as an eel in the beck; he'd wammel himself into crookedest
rabbit hole on the fell." Probably Angus entertained some of the
antipathy to Scotchmen which was peculiar to his age. "I'll swear he's
a taistrel," he said one day; "I dare not trust him with a mess of
poddish until I'd had the first sup."

In spite of this determined disbelief on the part of the head of the
family, old Wilson remained for a long time a member of the household
at Shoulthwaite Moss, following his occupations with constancy, and
always obsequious in the acknowledgment of his obligations. It was
observed that he manifested a peculiar eagerness when through any
stray channel intelligence was received in the valley of the sayings
and doings in the world outside. Nothing was thought of this until one
day the passing pedler brought the startling news that the Lord
Protector was dead. The family were at breakfast in the kitchen of the
old house when this tardy representative of the herald Mercury
arrived, and, in reply to the customary inquiry as to the news he