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prank, ſhe immediately gueſſed the kind intention of the ſpirit, and could not refrain from burſting out into a loud laugh—a liberty which Stephen would have ſeverely reſented in his more manful mood. But now he ſuffered her unſeaſonable levity to paſs unchaſtiſed, and only enquired anxiouſly after the goat and kids. This tickled his wife’s diaphragm ſtill more, for ſhe perceived the careful houſe-keeper had been prying into every corner. ‘What doſt thou trouble thyſelf about my cattle for?’ ſaid ſhe; ‘thou haſt not yet made the leaſt enquiry after the poor children. The creatures are yonder in the paſture, and in no danger of running away. As for Number-Nip’s prank, do not take that ſo much to heart, who knows how ſoon he or another may make us rich amends?’ ‘Aye, thou mayeſt wait long enough for that,’ ſaid the diſheartened huſband. ‘Little looked for often comes at laſt,’ retorted the merry-hearted wife. ‘Do not deſpair,

‘Stephen,