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 expect to see everything as it ought to be. Eventually Mally gave way, on the express understanding that Elisabeth was to be responsible for the washing and ironing of the table-linen used.

"And a nice job it'll be, after that crew's eaten off 'em!" said Mally. "I know 'em—they'll set their mugs and pint-pots on t' table-cloth and mak' rings o' stale beer all over it, and they'll spill t' gravy on it an' all. Howsumiver, tha mun hev thy way, lass, and I expect t' maister'll back thee up."

She said this with a sly look at Elisabeth, for Mally was a keen observer and had noticed Hepworth's interest in the young woman. Elisabeth, however, was all unconscious of Mally's meaning: she departed to busy herself with the final preparations for the feast.

At six o'clock when all the folk had assembled and taken their places, with Hepworth at their head, the old kitchen assumed quite a gay and animated appearance. Every man, woman, and child wore his or her best: every