"'You lie,' quoth she, 'an' are a big fule into the bargain. Come here an' I wull teach you how to tell the truth.'
"An' she took an ashen stick, an' she loomped I, an' thrashed I, till a' went off limping to bed.
"'Lie thar, Joe, till the morn,' says she, 'an' take your time to find out how many two halves make put together.'
"Lauck, a lauck, how my bones ached! It wor all right, howsomever; I never put my haund to stealing again."
The boys regarded their grandmother with a look of awe. The men returned to the field, and Dorothy busied herself with household matters till the sun went down. She was in a fever of impatience for Letty's return from the town, and worked as hard as she could to keep down her heart and drown thought.
"What keeps Letty," said Mrs. Barford, putting aside her knitting, and going to the door, "she is later than usual. Now she has some one to do her work she will stay gossiping about the town till dark night. When you have milked, Dolly, run to the avenue gate, and see if she be coming."
The round red moon was slowly rising behind the trees, and Joe and his men had finished their supper, and brought the last load of hay into the yard, before Dolly had cleared away and finished milking.
Without staying to take a cup of tea with Mrs. Barford, she tied on her bonnet and ran down to the avenue gate, just as old Captain came lumbering up to it.
"Dolly," cried his mistress, "be that you?"
Dorothy threw open the gate.