'Speak up for thysen, lad,' I said; 'hesn't
ta got a tongue i' thy head to-neet?'"
"Poor Ben! What did he say?"
"He said, 'Thou be still, mother, and talk to none but God. I'm as
innocent o' this sin as thou art;' and I said, 'I believe thee, my
lad, and God go wi' thee, Ben.' There's one thing troubles me, Miss
Hallam, and it bothered t' squire, too. Ben was in his Sunday clothes--
that wasn't odd, for he was going to t' chapel wi' me--but Jerry
noticed it, and he asked Ben where his overlooker's brat and cap was,
and Ben said they wer' i' t' room; but they wern't there, Miss Hallam,
and they hevn't found 'em either."
"That is strange."
"Ay, its varry queer, and t' constables seemed to think so. Jerry
nivver liked Ben, and he said to me, 'Well, dame, it's a great pity
that last o' t' Cravens should swing himsen to death on t' gallows.'
But I told him, 'Don't thee be so sure that Ben's t' last o' t'
Cravens: Thou's makkin' thy count without Providence, Jerry;' and I'm
none feared," she added, with a burst of confidence; "I'll trust in
God yet! I can't see him, but I can feel him."
"And you can hold fast to his hand, Sister Martha; and the darker it
gets, you can cling the closer, until the daylight breaks and the
shadows flee away."
"That I can, and that I will! Look there, my dearies!" and she pointed
to a little blue and white tea-pot on the high mantle-shelf, above
the hearth on which they were sitting.
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