“But, Master Nowell,” cried Potts, “my much esteemed and singular good client—­”

“I will have no nay,” interrupted Nowell, peremptorily.

“Hum!” muttered Potts; “I shall lose the best chance of distinction ever thrown in my way.”

“I care not,” said Nowell.

“Just as you came up, Master Nowell,” observed Nicholas, “I was examining a plan of the disputed estates in Pendle Forest.  It differs from yours, and, if correct, certainly substantiates Mistress Nutter’s claim.”

“I have mine with me,” replied Nowell, producing a plan, and opening it.  “We can compare the two, if you please.  The line runs thus:—­From the foot of Pendle Hill, beginning with Barley Booth, the boundary is marked by a stone wall, as far as certain fields in the occupation of John Ogden.  Is it not so?”

“It is,” replied Nicholas, comparing the statement with the other plan.

“It then runs on in a northerly direction,” pursued Nowell, “towards Burst Clough, and here the landmarks are certain stones placed in the moor, one hundred yards apart, and giving me twenty acres of this land, and Mistress Nutter ten.”

“On the contrary,” replied Nicholas.  “This plan gives Mistress Nutter twenty acres, and you ten.”

“Then the plan is wrong,” cried Nowell, sharply.

“It has been carefully prepared,” said Mistress Nutter, who had approached the table.

“No matter; it is wrong, I say,” cried Nowell, angrily.

“You see where the landmarks are placed, Master Nowell,” said Nicholas, pointing to the measurement.  “I merely go by them.”

“The landmarks are improperly placed in that plan,” cried Nowell.

“I will examine them myself to-morrow,” said Potts, taking out a large memorandum-hook; “there cannot be an error of ten acres—­ten perches—­or ten feet, possibly, but acres—­pshaw!”

“Laugh as you please; but go on,” said Mrs. Nutter.

“Well, then,” pursued Nicholas, “the line approaches the bank of a rivulet, called Moss Brook—­a rare place for woodcocks and snipes that Moss Brook, I may remark—­the land on the left consisting of five acres of waste land, marked by a sheepfold, and two posts set up in a line with it, belonging to Mistress Nutter.”

“To Mistress Nutter!” exclaimed Nowell, indignantly.  “To me, you mean.”

“It is here set down to Mistress Nutter,” said Nicholas.

“Then it is set down wrongfully,” cried Nowell.  “That plan is altogether incorrect.”

“On which side of the field does the rivulet flow?” inquired Potts.

“On the right,” replied Nicholas.

“On the left,” cried Nowell.

“There must be some extraordinary mistake,” said Potts.  “I shall make a note of that, and examine it to-morrow.—­N.B.  Waste land—­sheepfold—­ rivulet called Moss Brook, flowing on the left.”

“On the right,” cried Mistress Nutter.