Page:Between Two Loves.djvu/261

356 me about it; he said it was like a spider; a varry curious flower it must be."

"Then Aske got into a talk with Steve, and he told Steve he would like him to get t' nests and t' eggs of all the kinds of birds that iver he could find, for it seems Aske has a fancy to mak' a collection of them. He offered t' lad ten shillings for ivery nest with t' eggs in it, and more if t' nest was an uncommon kind. But Steve wouldn't tak' t' offer, not he! He said he would count himsen no better than a thief and a murderer if he took t' nest of any brooding bird, and that he'd far rather hev t' good-will of t' robins and finches than of the bluest man in t' county."

Sarah smiled, and answered, with a tone of decided approval, "That was just like Steve. Poor, kind-hearted lad!"

"Ay, t' squire smiled when he told me, and he said it would be a varry unlikely thing for a man like Steve to turn out a blood-thirsty, thieving blackguard."

"He is so good, and he is so bad, master, I'm fair puzzled with him."

"He has promised me to do better, and I have promised him no one should take his loom