necessity of resting before he attempted to return, it was
impossible for him to avoid being away from home for one night,
at least. He proposed to me, in case I disliked being left alone
in the Black Cottage, to lock the door and to take me to Moor
Farm to sleep with any one of the milkmaids who would give me a
share of her bed. I by no means liked the notion of sleeping with
a girl whom I did not know, and I saw no reason to feel afraid of
being left alone for only one night; so I declined. No thieves
had ever come near us; our poverty was sufficient protection
against them; and of other dangers there were none that even the
most timid person could apprehend. Accordingly, I got my father's
dinner, laughing at the notion of my taking refuge under the
protection of a milkmaid at Moor Farm. He started for his walk as
soon as he had done, saying he should try and be back by
dinner-time the next day, and leaving me and my cat Polly to take
care of the house.

I had cleared the table and brightened up the fire, and had sat
down to my work with the cat dozing at my feet, when I heard the
trampling of horses, and, running to the door, saw Mr. and Mrs.
Knifton, with their groom behind them, riding up to the Black
Cottage. It was part of the young lady's kindness never to
neglect an opportunity of coming to pay me a friendly visit, and
her husband was generally willing to accompany her for his wife's
sake. I made my best courtesy, therefore, with a great deal of
pleasure, but with no particular surprise at seeing them. They
dismounted and entered the cottage, laughing and talking in great
spirits. I soon heard that they were riding to the same county
town for which my father was bound and that they intended to stay
with some friends there for a few days, and to return home on