s)," said Grandfer
Cantle. "And even as 'tis we all look a little scammish beside him.
But in the year four 'twas said there wasn't a finer figure in
the whole South Wessex than I, as I looked when dashing past the
shop-winders with the rest of our company on the day we ran out o'
Budmouth because it was thoughted that Boney had landed round the
point. There was I, straight as a young poplar, wi' my firelock, and
my bag-net, and my spatter-dashes, and my stock sawing my jaws off,
and my accoutrements sheening like the seven stars! Yes, neighbours,
I was a pretty sight in my soldiering days. You ought to have seen me
in four!"

"'Tis his mother's side where Master Clym's figure comes from, bless
ye," said Timothy. "I know'd her brothers well. Longer coffins were
never made in the whole country of South Wessex, and 'tis said that
poor George's knees were crumpled up a little e'en as 'twas."

"Coffins, where?" inquired Christian, drawing nearer. "Have the ghost
of one appeared to anybody, Master Fairway?"

"No, no. Don't let your mind so mislead your ears, Christian; and be
a man," said Timothy reproachfully.

"I will." said Christian. "But now I think o't my shadder last night
seemed just the shape of a coffin. What is it a sign of when your
shade's like a coffin, neighbours? It can't be nothing to be afeared
of, I suppose?"

"Afeared, no!" said the Grandfer. "Faith, I was never afeard of
nothing except Boney, or I shouldn't ha' been the soldier I was. Yes,
'tis a thousand pities you didn't see me in four!"

By this time the mummers were preparing to leave; but Mrs. Yeobright
stopped them by asking them to sit down and have a little supper. To
this invitation Father Christmas, in the name of them all, readily
agreed.

Eustacia was happy in the opportunity of staying a little longer.
The cold and frosty night without was doubly frigid to her. But the
lingering was not without its difficulties. Mrs. Yeobright, for want
of room in the larger apartment, placed a bench for the mummers
half-way through the pantry door, which opened from the sitting-room.
Here they seated themselves in a row, the door being left open: thus
they were still virtually in the same apartment. Mrs. Yeobright
now murmured a few words to her son, who crossed the room to the
pantry-door, striking his head against the mistletoe as he passed, and
brought the mummers beef and bread, cake pastry, mead, and elder-wine,
the waiting being done by him