"
"I'm none o' that sort, Miss Phyllis. Look 'ee there;" and she pointed
to the broad lintel of her window, which had been scattered over with
crumbs; where, busily picking them up, were two robin redbreasts, who
chirruped thankfully, and watched Martha with bright curious eyes.
"Mary Clough's coming to dinner to-morrow, and her and Ben are going
to t' chapel together. Ben's getten himsen a new suit o' broadcloth,
and my word! they'll be a handsome couple!"
"You'll have a happy Christmas, Martha."
"Nobody in a' England hes more reason to keep a joyful Christmas, Miss
Hallam."
"No two Christmases are exactly alike; are they, Martha? Last year
your daughter was with you. Now she is married and gone far away. Last
Christmas my brother was at home. He is not coming this year."
"I found that out long ago, Miss Hallam. First we missed father, then
mother; then it was a brother or a sister, or a child more or less;
then my husband went, and last year, Sarah Ann."
"Will you and Ben come to the hall to-night?"
"Why--mebbe we will."
"Ben has quite got over his trouble?"
"Ah, Mary helped him a deal."
"Mary will get a good husband."
"She will that. Ben Craven is good at home. You may measure a man by
his home conduct, it's t' right place to draw t' line, you may depend
upon it.
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