CHAPTER V.
'Reuben, ha yo seen t' childer ?' inquired Aunt Hannah, poking her head round the door, so as to be heard by her husband, who was sitting outside cobbling at a bit of broken harness.
'Noa; niver seed un since dinner.' 'They went down to Clough End, two o'clock about, for t' bread, an I've yerd nothin ov em since.

Coom in to your tay, Reuben! I'll keep nothin waitin for them! They may goo empty if they conno keep time!' Reuben went in.

An hour later the husband and wife came out together, and stood looking down the steep road leading to the town.
'Just cast your eye on aw them stockins waitin to be mended,' said Hannah, angrily, turning back to the kitchen, and pointing to a chair piled with various garments.

'That's why she doon it, I spose.
I'll be even wi her! It's a poor soart of a supper she'll get this neet, or he noather.

An her stomach aw she cares for!' Reuben wandered down into the road, strolled up and down for nearly an hour, while the sun set and the light waned, went as far as the corner by Wigson's farm, asked a passer-by, saw and heard nothing, and came back, shaking his head in answer to his wife's shrill interrogations.
'Wal, if I doan't gie Louie a good smackin,' ejaculated Hannah, exasperated; and she was just going back into the house when an exclamation from Reuben stopped her; instead, she ran out to him, holding on her cap against the east wind.
'Look theer,' he said, pointing; 'what iver is them two up to ?' For suddenly he had noticed outside the gate leading into the field a basket lying on the ground against the wall.