Page:Between Two Loves.djvu/174

Rh nest, or the root of a rare plant. In the clear air of the wolds Eleanor could hear him singing a mile away, and an odd sort of friendship gradually grew up between them. She had never before felt any interest in mill-hands, never wanted to help any of them to realize their idea of happiness; but Steve interested her, and she regretted that her means were too small to effectually aid him. Perhaps it was because he so frankly confessed his faults.

"You see. Mistress Aske," he said, "there hes been a great mistake somewhere in my life. I'm on a wrong road, and I feel it ivery hour of ivery day. Well, then, what is t' good o' me working and tewing, for I'll niver be able to make wrong come right? I just try to get all t' happiness I can. When t' weather is bad I go to t' mill, and I earn a bit o' brass. When t' sun is shining, and t' birds are singing, and t' flowers blowing, and iverything is happy and bonny, I go and tak' my share o' t' pleasure with 'em."

"You are what people call lazy, Steve."

"Ay, I am. An hour ago I saw half a dozen men mending t' road down yonder. There were half a dozen crows in a tree watching