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Gervase did not notice the laughter. It was a hard plod up the hill and his shoulders were sore and aching under his unaccustomed load. The more they ached the more furious he felt with Exalted Harman. His heart sank with a sense of angry disappointment when, at last reaching Newhouse he heard from sundry loafing and sniggering young Harmans that their mother was abroad and Dr. Braceley closeted with their father upstairs.

"Eh well, I shall call again to-morrow, and then we shall see . . . so Saul, so Sam, so David, you stand by and watch your sister carry a double load of firewood to the barn? Pick it up and carry it there, you mannerless hobs."

The boys obeyed him, grimacing and guffawing among themselves. They were inordinately amused to see the old Parson squiring their sister in so grotesque a fashion.

§ 5

As soon as he was gone, their merriment broke out. "Eh, what a gallant thou'st gotten, Con. I reckon thou'dst a valiant walk wud 'un's backside stuck in thy face."

"He helped me along well enough. He's a kind-feeling man."