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164 gathered at different spots to see them pass. Villagers crowded the bridge at Tide End where the fish take the weir; Geordie and Tom stood at the fall beneath the pines; the miller, at the foot of his garden, watched them go up the new ladder.

'Bra run, Reuben,' remarked he to the landlord at his side. 'Iss, fy, and good fish among 'em. That's a heavy fish goin' up now. He'll do it; no, he won't, he an't. That basin is like Malachi's hen, too high in the instep. I said it was when they were puttin' un in.'

As the miller took no notice, he bellowed in his ear, ' Custna hear what I'm sayin', you?'

'Hear! Of course I can; I'm not deef. Hear, indeed! Thee wust drown the roar of a dozen floods, thee wust! What have 'ee got to say?'

'Why, only this, that he'll be up afore long.'

'What do 'ee mean by he?'

'What do I mean? What can a man mean these days but one thing?'

'How teasy you are.'

'Teasy, indeed! Do 'ee wonder at it? That varmint has got on my nerves. I'm always thinkin' about un, I caan't sleep for'n, and if I do, I see un in my dreams. Most like he will