mischievously; 'it's all for Ellen's fine green ivy-leaf brooch that
Matilda sent her!'

'I dare say Harold has been and told him everything valuable in the
house!' said Ellen.

'I think,' said Alfred gravely, 'it would be a very odd sort of thief
to come here, when the farmer's ploughing cup is just by.'

'Yes,' said Harold, 'I'd better have told him of that when I was
about it; don't you think so, Nelly?'

'If you go on at this rate,' said Ellen, teased into anger, 'you'll
be robbing the post-office yourself some day.'

'Ay! and I'll get Paul Blackthorn to help me,' said the boy. 'Come,
Ellen, don't be so foolish; I tell you he's every bit as honest as I
am, I'd go bail for him.'

'And I KNOW he'll lead you to ruin!' cried Ellen, half crying: 'a
boy that comes from nowhere and nobody knows, and sleeps on a hay-
cock all night, no better than a mere tramp!'

'What, quarrelling here? 'said Mrs. King, coming upstairs. 'The lad,
I wish him no ill, I'm sure, but he'll be gone by to-morrow, so you
may hold your tongues about him, and we'll read our chapter and go to
bed.'

Harold's confidence and Ellen's distrust were not much wiser the one
than the other. Which was nearest being right?