The snow had fallen heavily over the dark waving moorland before the day of the funeral.  The black storm-laden dome of heaven lay very still and close upon the white earth, as they carried the body forth out of the house which had known his presence so long as its ruling power.  Two and two the mourners followed, making a black procession, in their winding march over the unbeaten snow, to Milne Row Church; now lost in some hollow of the bleak moors, now slowly climbing the heaving ascents.  There was no long tarrying after the funeral, for many of the neighbours who accompanied the body to the grave had far to go, and the great white flakes which came slowly down were the boding forerunners of a heavy storm.  One old friend alone accompanied the widow and her sons to their home.

The Upclose Farm had belonged for generations to the Leighs; and yet its possession hardly raised them above the rank of labourers.  There was the house and out-buildings, all of an old-fashioned kind, and about seven acres of barren unproductive land, which they had never possessed capital enough to improve; indeed, they could hardly rely upon it for subsistence; and it had been customary to bring up the sons to some trade, such as a wheelwright’s or blacksmith’s.

James Leigh had left a will in the possession of the old man who accompanied them home.  He read it aloud.  James had bequeathed the farm to his faithful wife, Anne Leigh, for her lifetime, and afterwards to his son William.  The hundred and odd pounds in the savings bank was to accumulate for Thomas.

After the reading was ended, Anne Leigh sat silent for a time and then she asked to speak to Samuel Orme alone.  The sons went into the back kitchen, and thence strolled out into the fields regardless of the driving snow.  The brothers were dearly fond of each other, although they were very different in character.  Will, the elder, was like his father, stern, reserved, and scrupulously upright.  Tom (who was ten years younger) was gentle and delicate as a girl, both in appearance and character.  He had always clung to his mother and dreaded his father.  They did not speak as they walked, for they were only in the habit of talking about facts, and hardly knew the more sophisticated language applied to the description of feelings.

Meanwhile their mother had taken hold of Samuel Orme’s arm with her trembling hand.

“Samuel, I must let the farm—­I must.”

“Let the farm!  What’s come o’er the woman?”

“Oh, Samuel!” said she, her eyes swimming in tears, “I’m just fain to go and live in Manchester.  I mun let the farm.”

Samuel looked, and pondered, but did not speak for some time.  At last he said—­

“If thou hast made up thy mind, there’s no speaking again it; and thou must e’en go.  Thou’lt be sadly pottered wi’ Manchester ways; but that’s not my look out.  Why, thou’lt have to buy potatoes, a thing thou hast never done afore in all thy born life.  Well! it’s not my look out.  It’s rather for me than again me.  Our Jenny is going to be married to Tom Higginbotham, and he was speaking of wanting a bit of land to begin upon.  His father will be dying sometime, I reckon, and then he’ll step into the Croft Farm.  But meanwhile—­”