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Yet Simon was utterly at a loss to account for her swoon. He could only conjecture that she had missed her sweetheart from the corps, and that the inquiring volunteer had been a comrade sent to announce Tom Hulme’s death. Observing how much he was confounded, the good lady thought it best to retire, and leave them to themselves.

“Come, Ellen, it is time we went home.”

But Ellen, seated on a low stool in the corner, had her lap full of broken toys, which had found their way hither from the Clough nursery, and which Jabez displayed to all comers.

“My daughter appears wonderfully attracted to your little grandson.”

“He’s noa gran’son o’ moine, Misses, though aw think aw love th’ little lad as much as if he did belung to us. Aw just picked him eawt o’ th’ wayter, i’ th’ greet flood abeawt two year an’ hauve back. Aw dunnot know reetly who th’ young un belungs to.”

“And you have kept him ever since—through all the trying time of scarcity?”

“Yoi; aw could do no other, an’ a little chap like Jabez couldna ate much.”