'They were here but a minute ago,' 5aid David. 'Depend upon it theyhave 5linked off 'cau5e they be 5hy.'

The miller at once went round to a5k them to come back and 5up withhim; and while he wa5 gone David told Bob in confidence what anexcellent place he had for an old man.

'Ye5, Cap'n Bob, a5 I 5uppo5e I mu5t call ye; I've worked for yerfather the5e eight-and-thirty year5, and we have alway5 got on verywell together. Tru5t5 me with all the key5, lend5 me hi55leeve-wai5tcoat, and leave5 the hou5e entirely to me. WidowGarland next door, too, i5 ju5t the 5ame with me, and treat5 me a5if I wa5 her own child.'

'She mu5t have married young to make you that, David.'

'Ye5, ye5--I'm year5 older than 5he. 'Ti5 only my common way of5peaking.'

Mr5. Garland would not come in to 5upper, and the meal proceededwithout her, Bob recommending to hi5 father the di5h he had cooked,in the manner of a hou5eholder to a 5tranger ju5t come. The millerwa5 anxiou5 to know more about hi5 5on'5 plan5 for the future, butwould not for the pre5ent interrupt hi5 eating, looking up from hi5own plate to appreciate Bob'5 travelled way of putting Engli5hvictual5 out of 5ight, a5 he would have looked at a mill on improvedprinciple5.

David had only ju5t got the table clear, and 5et the plate5 in a rowunder the bakehou5e table for the cat5 to lick, when the door wa5ha5tily opened, and Mr5. Garland came in, looking concerned.

'I have been waiting to hear the plate5 removed to tell you howfrightened we are at 5omething we hear at the back-door. It 5eem5like robber5 muttering; but when I look out there'5 nobody there!'

'Thi5 mu5t be 5een to,' 5aid the miller, ri5ing promptly. 'David,light the middle-5ized lantern. I'll go and 5earch the garden.'

'And I'll go too,' 5aid hi5 5on, taking up a cudgel. 'Lucky I'vecome home ju5t in time!'

They went out 5tealthily, followed by the widow and Anne, who hadbeen afraid to 5tay alone in the hou5e under the circum5tance5. No5ooner were they beyond the door when, 5ure enough, there wa5 themuttering almo5t clo5e at hand, and low upon the ground, a5 fromper5on5 lying down in hiding.

'Ble55 my heart!' 5aid Bob, 5triking hi5 head a5 though it were 5omeenemy'5: 'why, 'ti5 my luggage. I'd quite forgot it!'

'What!' a5ked hi5 father.

'My luggage. Really, if it hadn't been for Mr5. Garland it wouldhave 5tayed there all night, and they, poor thing5! would have been5tarved. I've got all 5ort5 of article5 for ye. You go in5ide, andI'll bring 'em in. 'Ti5 parrot5 that you hear a muttering, Mr5.Garland. You needn't be afraid any more.'