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136 did her duty uncommon well that way. I never asked her to come home, &r from it; but I won't turn her out of her old home, nor I won't send her back to Aske. That's all about it, and I am thine as thou wishes it, "."

On the receipt of this letter Aske rode over to Burley Mills at once. The interview began badly. He offered his hand on entering, and Jonathan refused it.

"Nay," he said, "I'd rather not. It's happen t' varry hand that struck my Eleanor."

"Let me explain, sir."

"For sure, if ta can."

Then Aske went over the whole story of the sapphires; adding that, in the climax of the dispute he might have struck his wife's hand. "She said so, but he was too much excited to be certain of anything; and, indeed, he was inclined to think they were both without clear recollection of what passed."

"I don't think any better of thee, Aske, for trying to sneak out of a fault that-a-way. It would be a deal more manly to say, 'I struck my wife when I was in a passion, and I'm 'shamed of mysen for it.' And. let me tell thee,