And so he went on to tell of the ruse by which they had been enticed into the market-place; interrupted from time to time by their eager questions, and interrupting himself every now and then with exclamations of weariness and pain, which made him at last say,—­

‘Now a’m willing to tell yo’ a’ about it to-morrow, for it’s not ivery day a man can do such great things; but to-neet a mun go to bed, even if King George were wantin’ for to know how a managed it a’.’

He went wearily upstairs, and wife and daughter both strove their best to ease his aching limbs, and make him comfortable.  The warming-pan, only used on state occasions, was taken down and unpapered for his service; and as he got between the warm sheets, he thanked Sylvia and her mother in a sleepy voice, adding,—­

‘It’s a vast o’ comfort to think on yon poor lads as is sleepin’ i’ their own homes this neet,’ and then slumber fell upon him, and he was hardly roused by Bell’s softly kissing his weather-beaten cheek, and saying low,—­

’God bless thee, my man!  Thou was allays for them that was down and put upon.’

He murmured some monosyllabic reply, unheard by his wife, who stole away to undress herself noiselessly, and laid herself down on her side of the bed as gently as her stiffened limbs would permit.

They were late in rising the next morning.  Kester was long since up and at his work among the cattle before he saw the house-door open to admit the fresh chill morning air; and even then Sylvia brushed softly, and went about almost on tip-toe.  When the porridge was ready, Kester was called in to his breakfast, which he took sitting at the dresser with the family.  A large wooden platter stood in the middle; and each had a bowl of the same material filled with milk.  The way was for every one to dip his pewter spoon into the central dish, and convey as much or as little as he liked at a time of the hot porridge into his pure fresh milk.  But to-day Bell told Kester to help himself all at once, and to take his bowl up to the master’s room and keep him company.  For Daniel was in bed, resting from his weariness, and bemoaning his painful bruises whenever he thought of them.  But his mind was still so much occupied with the affair of the previous night, that Bell judged rightly that a new listener would give ease to his body as well as to his mind, and her proposal of Kester’s carrying up his breakfast had been received by Daniel with satisfaction.

So Kester went up slowly, carrying his over-full basin tenderly, and seated himself on the step leading down into the bed-room (for levels had not been calculated when the old house was built) facing his master, who, half sitting up in the blue check bed, not unwillingly began his relation again; to which Kester listened so attentively, that his spoon was often arrested in its progress from the basin to his mouth, open ready to receive it, while he gazed with unwinking eyes at Daniel narrating his exploits.