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done your day’s work； like good churchmen； and if Will Maskery
doesn’t like to join you； but to go to a prayer…meeting at
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Treddleston instead； let him； that’s no business of yours； so long as
he doesn’t hinder you from doing what you like。 And as to people
saying a few idle words about us； we must not mind that； any more
than the old church…steeple minds the rooks cawing about it。 Will
Maskery comes to church every Sunday afternoon； and does his
wheelwright’s business steadily in the weekdays； and as long as he
does that he must be let alone。”
“Ah； sir； but when he comes to church； he sits an’ shakes his
head； an’ looks as sour an’ as coxy when we’re a…singin’ as I should
like to fetch him a rap across the jowl—God forgi’e me—an’ Mrs。
Irwine； an’ Your Reverence too； for speakin’ so afore you。 An’ he
said as our Christmas singin’ was no better nor the cracklin’ o’
thorns under a pot。”
“Well； he’s got a bad ear for music； Joshua。 When people have
wooden heads； you know； it can’t be helped。 He won’t bring the
other people in Hayslope round to his opinion； while you go on
singing as well as you do。”
“Yes； sir； but it turns a man’s stomach t’ hear the Scripture
misused i’ that way。 I know as much o’ the words o’ the Bible as he
does； an’ could say the Psalms right through i’ my sleep if you was
to pinch me； but I know better nor to take ’em to say my own say
wi’。 I might as well take the Sacriment…cup home and use it at
meals。”
“That’s a very sensible remark of yours； Joshua； but； as I said
before—”
While Mr。 Irwine was speaking； the sound of a booted step and
the clink of a spur were heard on the stone floor of the entrance…
hall； and Joshua Rann moved hastily aside from the doorway to
make room for some one who paused there； and said； in a ringing
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tenor voice；
“Godson Arthur—may he come in？”
“Come in； come in； godson！” Mrs。 Irwine answered； in the deep
half…masculine tone which belongs to the vigorous old woman； and
there entered a young gentleman in a riding…dress； with his right
arm in a sling； whereupon followed that pleasant confusion of
laughing interjections； and hand…shakings； and “How are you’s？”
mingled with joyous short barks and wagging of tails on the part of
the canine members of the family； which tells that the visitor is on
the best terms with the visited。 The young gentleman was Arthur
Donnithorne； known in Hayslope； variously； as “the young
squire；” “the heir；” and “the captain。” He was only a captain in the
Loamshire Militia； but to the Hayslope tenants he was more
intensely a captain than all the young gentlemen of the same rank
in his Majesty’s regulars—he outshone them as the planet Jupiter
outshines the Milky Way。 If you want to know more particularly
how he looked； call to your remembrance some tawny…whiskered；
brown…locked； clear…complexioned young Englishman whom you
have met with in a foreign town； and been proud of as a fellow…
countryman—well…washed； high…bred； white…handed； yet looking
as if he could deliver well from ’the left shoulder and floor his
man： I will not be so much of a tailor as to trouble your
imagination with the difference of costume； and insist on the
striped waistcoat； long…tailed coat； and low top…boots。
Turning round to take a chair； Captain Donnithorne said； “But
don’t let me interrupt Joshua’s business—he has something to
say。”
“Humbly begging your honour’s pardon；” said Joshua； bowing
low； “there was one thing I had to say to his reverence as other
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things had drove out o’ my head。”
“Out with it； Joshua； quickly！” said Mr。 Irwine。
“Belike； sir； you havena heared as Thias Bede’s dead—
drownded this morning； or more like overnight； i’ the Willow
Brook； again’ the bridge right i’ front o’ the house。”
“Ah！” exclaimed both the gentlemen at once； as if they were a
good deal interested in the information。
“An’ Seth Bede’s been to me this morning to say he wished me
to tell Your Reverence as his brother Adam begged of you
particular t’ allow his father’s grave to be dug by the White Thorn；
because his mother’s set her heart on it； on account of a dream as
she had； an’ they’d ha’ come theirselves to ask you； but they’ve so
much to see after with the crowner； an’ that； an’ their mother’s
took on so； an’ wants ’em to make sure o’ the spot for fear
somebody else should take it。 An’ if Your Reverence sees well and
good； I’ll send my boy to tell ’em as soon as I get home； an’ that’s
why I make bold to trouble you wi’ it； His Honour being present。”
“To be sure； Joshua； to be sure； they shall have it。 I’ll ride round
to Adam myself； and see him。 Send your boy； however； to say they
shall have the grave； lest anything should happen to detain me。
And now； good morning； Joshua； go into the kitchen and have
some ale。”
“Poor old Thias！” said Mr。 Irwine； when Joshua was gone。 “I’m
afraid the drink helped the brook to drown him。 I should have
been glad for the load to have been taken off my friend Adam’s
shoulders in a less painful way。 That fine fellow has been propping
up his father from ruin for the last five or six years。”
“He’s a regular trump； is Adam；” said Captain Donnithorne。
“When I was a little fellow； and Adam was a strapping lad of
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fifteen； and taught me carpe