When they rose from their knees Hannah put away the Bible, the boy and girl raced each other upstairs, and the elders were left alone.
An hour passed away.

Reuben was dozing peacefully in the chimney-corner; Aunt Hannah had just finished putting a patch on a pair of Reuben's trousers, was folding up her work and preparing to rouse her slumbering companion, when a sound overhead caught her ear.
'What's that chilt at now ?' she exclaimed angrily, getting up and listening.

'She'd owt ta been in bed long ago.

Soomthin mischeevous, I'll be bound.

And lighting a dip beside her, she went upstairs with a treacherously quiet step.