‘That is what I am going to hear, my child,’ replied Mr. Lockwood.  ’Stephen has not come over the hills without some errand.  Now, my boy, speak out plainly and boldly, and let me hear what has brought you to your mother’s old master.’

Thus encouraged, Stephen, with the utmost simplicity and frankness, though with fewer words than Martha would have put into the narrative, told Mr. Lockwood the whole history of his life; to which the clergyman listened with ever-increasing interest, as he noticed how the boy was telling all the truth, and nothing but the truth, even to his joining Black Thompson in poaching.  When he had finished, Mr. Lockwood went to a large cabinet in the room, and, bringing out a bundle of old yellow documents, soon found among them the paper James Fern had spoken of on his death-bed.  It was written by the clergyman living in Longville at the time of old Martha Fern’s death, to certify that she had settled, and maintained her settlement on the hillside, without paying rent, or having her fences destroyed, for upwards of twenty years, and that the land was her own by the usages of the common.

‘I don’t know what use it will be,’ said Mr. Lockwood, ’but I will take legal advice upon it; that is, I will tell my lawyer all about it, and see what we had best do.  You may leave the case in my hands, Stephen.  But to-morrow morning we start for the south of France, where my daughter must live all the winter for the benefit of the warm climate; and I must go with her, for she is my only treasure now.  Can you live in your cabin till we come home?  Will you trust yourself to me, Stephen?  I will not see a son of my old servant wronged.’

‘Please, sir,’ said Stephen, ’the cabin is good enough for us, and we are nearer church and the night-school; only I didn’t like to break my word to father, besides losing the old home:  we can stay all winter well.  I’ll trust you, sir; but my work is dangersome, and please God I should get killed, will you do the same for Martha and little Nan?’

‘Ay!’ answered Mr. Lockwood, coughing down his emotion at the young boy’s forethought and care for his sisters.  ’If it pleases God, my boy, you will live to make a right good, true-hearted Christian man; but if He should take you home before me, I’ll befriend your sisters as long as I live.  I like your Miss Anne, Stephen; but your master is a terrible rascal, I fear.’

‘Yes, sir,’ said Stephen quietly.

‘You don’t say much about him, however,’ replied Mr. Lockwood, smiling at his few words.

‘Please, sir, I am trying to love my enemies,’ he answered, with a feeling of shyness; ’if I was to call him a rascal, or any other bad word, it ’ud throw me back like, and it’s very hard work anyhow.  I feel as if I’d like to do it sometimes.’