nattering, discontented old body going over her grievances.
The Housewife had not left the saucepan for two minutes, when the milk boiled over, and it was all burnt and smoked as before.
"The pan must be dirty," muttered the good woman, in great vexation; "and there are two full quarts of milk as good as thrown to the dogs."
"_And that's fourpence_," added the voice in the chimney.
After a thorough cleaning, the saucepan was once more filled and set on the fire, but with no better success. The milk was hopelessly spoilt, and the housewife shed tears of vexation at the waste, crying, "Never before did such a thing befall me since I kept house! Three quarts of new milk burnt for one meal!"
"_And that's sixpence_," cried the voice from the chimney. "_You didn't save the tinkering after all Mother_!"
With which the Hillman himself came tumbling down the chimney, and went off laughing through the door.
But thenceforward the saucepan was as good as any other.
THE NECK.
A Legend of a
