wife, and a wonderful horse, and all the country attached to him, he

kept the law at a wholesome distance, until it became too much for its

master; and a new king arose. Upon this, Tom sued his pardon afresh; and

Jeremy Stickles, who suited the times, was glad to help him in getting

it, as well as a compensation. Thereafter the good and respectable

Tom lived a godly (though not always sober) life; and brought up his

children to honesty, as the first of all qualifications.

My dear mother was as happy as possibly need be with us; having no

cause for jealousy, as others arose around her. And everybody was well

pleased, when Lizzy came in one day and tossed her bookshelf over, and

declared that she would have Captain Bloxham, and nobody should prevent

her. For that he alone, of all the men she had ever met with, knew good

writing when he saw it, and could spell a word when told. As he had now

succeeded to Captain Stickle's position (Stickles going up the tree),

and had the power of collecting, and of keeping, what he liked, there

was nothing to be said against it; and we hoped that he would pay her

out.

I sent little Ensie to Blundell's school, at my own cost and charges,

having changed his name, for fear of what anyone might do to him. I

called him Ensie Jones; and we got him a commission, and after many

scrapes of spirit, he did great things in the Low Countries. He looks

upon me as his father; and without my leave will not lay claim to the

heritage and title of the Doones, which clearly belong to him.

Ruth Huckaback is not married yet; although upon Uncle Reuben's death

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