Ben Holden came home at the end of the holidays, and his first words were: "Well, Jonathan, thou hes had a good Christmas! Very few men hev hed as grand a chance to keep it as thou hest."
"Ay, Ben, I'm glad I did it. It isn't many men as would hev done it."
Ben did not answer.
"Doesn't ta think so, Ben?"
"Nay, I don't. I think there's varry few men that wouldn't hev done just as thou did, and them few wouldn't be worth counting among men at a'. I hear Mistress Aske hes gone back to her home."
"Ay, I sent her t' night he was hurt."
"Well, now, I'll praise thee for that. It's a deal easier to do a grand thing than a just thing. Them that are joined together should learn to draw together. Not even a father hes t' right to put 'em asunder."
"Thou that reckons to know so much about wedding, why doesn't ta try it?"
"Happen I may yet. There's older men than me, I'll warrant, thinking about it."
Jonathan took no notice of this remark, perhaps it touched him too nearly, but he asked in
