increased, if not caused by want of food.

He had had a sovereign given him to pay his expenses as delegate to
Glasgow, and out of this he had given Mary a few shillings in the
morning; so she had been able to buy a sufficient meal, and now her
care was to cook it so as to tempt him.

"If thou'rt doing that for me, Mary, thou mayst spare thy labour. I
telled thee I were not for eating."

"Just a little bit, father, before starting," coaxed Mary
perseveringly.

At that instant who should come in but Job Legh. It was not often
he came, but when he did pay visits, Mary knew from past experience
they were anything but short. Her father's countenance fell back
into the deep gloom from which it was but just emerging at the sound
of Mary's sweet voice, and pretty pleading. He became again
restless and fidgety, scarcely giving Job Legh the greeting
necessary for a host in his own house. Job, however, did not stand
upon ceremony. He had come to pay a visit, and was not to be
daunted from his purpose. He was interested in John Barton's
mission to Glasgow, and wanted to hear all about it; so he sat down,
and made himself comfortable, in a manner that Mary saw was meant to
be stationary.

"So thou'rt off to Glasgow, art thou?" he began his catechism.

"Ay."