sighed Job," many of your saints will be astonished when their reckoning comes to be made up." "I don't stick myself up as a saint," observed Mrs. Sykes, taking her husband's stricture generally as a personal reference. No, no," replied Job soothingly. "I'm sure of that, my dear. And yet, as a female or she saint, there have been numbers so earmarked, without half the right to the claim to the brand." Mrs. Sykes's feelings were mollified by this admission on the part of her spouse, and, like oil upon troubled waters, his words caused the surface to become smooth and unruffled. "That cunning-looking old rogue, Peter Parkins, called at our house this morning," remarked Nancy. "Did you count your asked Mrs. Sykes. chickens after he left?" "I didn't take that precaution," replied her daughter-in-law, laughing. "You would, I suppose," rejoined Job, "if you knew that a fox had been paying a visit to your hen-roost?" 66 "I certainly should," returned Nancy, although the numbering would let me know the exact nature of my loss. a result, I've been told, not always wise to discover." 66 Perhaps not," added Job; "but I'd always try to know the worst as quickly as I could, as then we defy the worst of evils-up-and-down, see-saw, humbugging doubt." 66 Honesty for ever!" cried James, in a clear, musical, sportsmanlike voice. "Wind him, and cross him! Eloo-in, hoick!" "That's it!" responded his father, in a tone of admiration. 66 Egad, Jem, but what music there's in a Sykes's voice! Talk about singing," continued Job, slapping his dexter thigh. "It beats the psalms on Sundays out an' out." "Have at him!" hallooed the young huntsman, seeing that his father listened for more of his woodcraft tones. "Have at him, Whirlegig, yo-dooit, Nimble; hoick, hoick. Avoy, avoy, my beauties, my darlings; hoick, hoick, there, give it him! Tally-ho! gone away! For'ard, for'ard, my lads, yoicks, gone away! Whowhoop!" Upon my "Beautiful!" exclaimed Job. " word! to hear a Sykes's halloo, it's enough to make a man wish there was nothing else but hallooing as long as he lived." "Come," said Nancy, looking proudly at her husband, as he ceased to make the rafters ring with his echoing voice, "it's time for us to take our departure." 66 Aye," repeated he, "we're dipping into the night." "God bless ye!" said Job, imprinting kiss upon the cheek of his daughter-in-law. "Peace be unto the house," returned James, pressing his hat over his brows; "but war for ever unto the larder and cellar." CHAPTER XV. "For herein fortune shows herself more kind "THAT time never flies faster than when his way lies among flowers," the poets have sung, and never was this aphorism made more clearly manifest than in the few years following the union of our hero and Mary Baldwin. All in all to each other, not a word, thought, nor action but was studied for reciprocated delight and affection, and so passed their happy lives. The boundless hospitality at the old mansion was still kept up with all the pristine generosity of its former proprietor. At Christmas the holly branch shone upon the walls, and the misletoe hung beneath the oaken beam, and light heels danced, and lighter hearts laughed, as in the days of yore. It was not long either, not many years, before, at one of these revels, a child, with long silken hair floating over his back, and a face such as angels have, might be seen mounted on the shoulders of Job Sykes, and shouting in ecstasies of delight as he was borne through the dance. 66 Again, again," cried he, when his bearer same to a stop. "No, no, Master Tom," replied Job, placing him on the floor; "my back tells me you grow heavier every Christmas. I must take shorter turns with ye.' "Ha, ha," laughed the boy, as he was whirled under the Druidical branch, and there smothered with kisses; "ha, ha, ha." John Hardy and Mrs. Gordon, of course, remained at the Hall; and often would they stroll together, arm in arm, and speak of by |