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not there either, we're goin' to Brockdale."
    "Brockdale? But that's a mile and a half out of the way."
    "It might be, but there's a difference of a penny in a quarter stone of flour at Nesbitt's."
    "Me ma used to say it was nothin' but chaff." He- was looking straight ahead as he spoke and she, her gaze directed in the same way, answered,
    "It might be but it's fillin'."
    When they reached the place where the roads branched, one to Heatherbrook, one to Brockdale and the other to Benham, they turned up the Brockdale Road but stopped as they saw a flat cart coming from the direction of their hamlet being driven by the wheelwright, Matthew Turnbull.
    With the children about her, Cissie awaited the cart's approach, and when it was level with them Matthew pulled it to a halt and she looked up at him and said, "You can come for the clock anytime, Mr.
    Turnbull. " She wondered if he had already been to the house to collect it.
    He replied quietly, "That's all right, there's no hurry." He now took his eyes from her and looked at the faces of the children all staring up at him; then jerking his head in the direction of the hamlet he asked, "Aren't you making your way home?" and she answered, "No, we're going to Brockdale first, to the shop."
    When he didn't remark on this, Bella, who was a born opportunist, said,
    "We're goin' for flour; it's cheaper there but it's a long tramp."
    Cissie cast a hard glance towards Bella. She knew what she was after;
    Bella was never backward in coming forward; Bella would never die for want of asking. It was strange; she was so like herself in looks, having the same color skin and chestnut hair, but there was no similarity at all in their ways, nor was any other member of the family as forward as Bella. But Bella, as usual, achieved her end, for Mr.
    Turnbull was now inviting them all up on the cart. He jumped down, saying, "Just a minute, I'll move these," and picking up two sheep cribs, a hay rake, and a wooden milk bucket, all looking startlingly new, he said, "I'm goin' that way, I've got to deliver these to Bamfords." He was addressing Cissie solely now and went on by way of explanation, which seemed slightly shamefaced although she couldn't understand why, "Make these odds and ends when things are slack. People are running their carts on the rims this last year or so." He gave a huh of a laugh, then added, "There now, there's plenty of room for you all. Up with you!" He took Sarah by the armpits and lifted her well back on to the cart, then Bella and Mary, while William and Jimmy climbed up themselves. Then there was only Cissie, and he stood looking at her for a minute, but before he could extend his hands towards her she had swung herself on to the tail board.
    "You'll be all right there?" he asked as she settled herself.
    "Yes. Yes, thank you."
    "It's a rough road, you'll have to hang on. You can come up front if you like."
    She shook her head quickly and turned her eyes from his.
    "Ta. Thanks.
    I'm all right here. "
    When he started up the cart they all fell together into a heap but, with the exception of Bella, none of them laughed as they would have done at any other time, and even Bella's laugh was smothered.
    They had covered half the distance to Brockdale when he called over his shoulder, "How much flour are you wanting?"
    Cissie heard him quite clearly but did not answer until William, giving her a small poke in the back, whispered, "Our Cissie, he's asking' how much flour you're wantin'."
    A number of seconds elapsed before she could say, "A quarter stone,"
    and then she knew that her voice would not carry to him. It was Jimmy who called, "Quarter stone."
    Matthew made no comment on this and they had almost reached Brockdale when he said, "If you wouldn't mind a little longer ride I would take you to the mill, Watson's mill. I know him; you'd get more value for your money there."
    Cissie twisted round and looked towards him. He had his head turned on his shoulder as if waiting for an