Encouraged by this support of the sapient idea he had hinted at, the shepherd who had spoken before broke in with, "Where else did he get it _I_ say ?" "Ye breed of the cuckoo," said Matthew, "ye've gat no rhyme but yan." Amid the derisive laughter that followed, the door of the inn was again opened, and in a moment more Ralph Ray stood in the middle of the floor with Simeon Stagg in his arms.

Rotha was behind, pale but composed.

Every man in the room rose to his feet.

The landlord stepped forward, with no pleasant expression on his face; and from an inner room his wife came bustling up.

Little Monsey stood clutching and twitching his fingers.