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was nearly noon when Hepworth rode up to his door and entered the house. In the kitchen he found Mally, who was so full of work that she had been obliged, sorely against her will, to engage the services of a couple of women from the village. These she was rating soundly when Hepworth entered, one because she was slow and lacking in comprehension, the other for her tendency to stand gossiping instead of going forward with her appointed task.

"Thank the Lord 'at weddin's doesn't come ivery day!" cried Mally, catching sight of Hepworth as he strode into the kitchen. "I used to wish 'at t' maister wod get wed, but