The farmer, though he seemed annoyed at the boy's persistent presence, did not order him to get out of the way; and thus the lad preceded them, his hard gaze never leaving her, till they reached the top of the ascent, when the farmer trotted on with relief in his lineaments--having taken no outward notice of the boy whatever.
'How that poor lad stared at me!' said the young wife.
'Yes, dear; I saw that he did.' 'He is one of the village, I suppose ?' 'One of the neighbourhood.

I think he lives with his mother a mile or two off.' 'He knows who we are, no doubt ?' 'O yes.

You must expect to be stared at just at first, my pretty Gertrude.' 'I do,--though I think the poor boy may have looked at us in the hope we might relieve him of his heavy load, rather than from curiosity.' 'O no,' said her husband off-handedly.

'These country lads will carry a hundredweight once they get it on their backs; besides his pack had more size than weight in it.

Now, then, another mile and I shall be able to show you our house in the distance--if it is not too dark before we get there.' The wheels spun round, and particles flew from their periphery as before, till a white house of ample dimensions revealed itself, with farm-buildings and ricks at the back.
Meanwhile the boy had quickened his pace, and turning up a by-lane some mile and half short of the white farmstead, ascended towards the leaner pastures, and so on to the cottage of his mother.
She had reached home after her day's milking at the outlying dairy, and was washing cabbage at the doorway in the declining light.