T' lass upstairs 'll like nought better than t' curl hersel' round a secret, and purr o'er it, just as t' oud cat does o'er her blind kitten.

But thou'll be wanting to see t' lass, a'll be bound.

An oud man like me isn't as good company as a pretty lass.' Laughing a low rich laugh over his own wit, Daniel went to the bottom of the stairs, and called, 'Sylvie, Sylvie! come down, lass! a's reet; come down!' For a time there was no answer.

Then a door was unbolted, and Sylvia said, 'I can't come down again.

I'm noan comin' down again to-night.' Daniel laughed the more at this, especially when he caught Charley's look of disappointment.
'Hearken how she's bolted her door.