me; and that girl there, she shall bite too. You can't be back till evening, and you'll be perished with hunger."
"Thank you, master," answered the widow eagerly.
"And I'll give you a sup of the very primest brandy."
"Mother, we must return at once. The tide will ebb, and we shall not be able to get away."
"That's a lie," said Elijah angrily, "as you've got here, you can get away. There's plenty of water in the fleet, and will be for three hours. I knew you'd come and so I got some rashers all ready on the pan; there they be."
"You're very kind," observed the widow.
"A landlord is bound to give his tenantry a dinner on rent-day," said Rebow, with an ugly laugh which displayed his great teeth. "It's Michaelmas, but I have no goose. I keep plenty on the marshes. They do well here, and they pay well too."
"I will have a witness that I have paid the rent," said Mehalah. "Call one of your men."
"Go and call one yourself. I am going to fry the rashers."
"That guinea is still on the floor," said Mehalah.
"I have refused it. Pick it up, and give me another."
"I will not pick it up; and I will not give you another till you have convinced me that the coin is bad."
"Then let it lie."
"Where are your men?"
"I don't know, go and find them. They're at their dinner now. I dare say near the pump."
Mehalah left the house, but before she descended the steps, she looked over the flat. There was a sort of shed for cattle half a mile off, and she thought she saw someone moving there. She went at once in that direction.
Scarce was she gone when Elijah beckoned the widow to draw over a chair to the fire.
"You cook the wittles," said he; "I'm my own cook in general, but when a woman is here, why, I'm fain to let her take the job off my hands."
The old woman obeyed with as much activity as she was mistress of. Whilst thus engaged, Elijah walked to the door, opened it, and looked out.
"She's going as straight as a wild duck," he said, and
