tranter, reviving the spirit of the
discussion by the infusion of new ideas, as was his custom--"this is my
plan; if you don't like it, no harm's done. We all know one another very
well, don't we, neighbours?"

That they knew one another very well was received as a statement which,
though familiar, should not be omitted in introductory speeches.

"Then I say this"--and the tranter in his emphasis slapped down his hand
on Mr. Spinks's shoulder with a momentum of several pounds, upon which
Mr. Spinks tried to look not in the least startled--"I say that we all
move down-along straight as a line to Pa'son Mayble's when the clock has
gone six to-morrow night. There we one and all stand in the passage,
then one or two of us go in and spak to en, man and man; and say, 'Pa'son
Mayble, every tradesman d'like to have his own way in his workshop, and
Mellstock Church is yours. Instead of turning us out neck and crop, let
us stay on till Christmas, and we'll gie way to the young woman, Mr.
Mayble, and make no more ado about it. And we shall always be quite
willing to touch our hats when we meet ye, Mr. Mayble, just as before.'
That sounds very well? Hey?"

"Proper well, in faith, Reuben Dewy."

"And we won't sit down in his house; 'twould be looking too familiar when
only just reconciled?"

"No need at all to sit down. Just do our duty man and man, turn round,
and march out--he'll think all the more of us for it."

"I hardly think Leaf had better go wi' us?" said Michael, turning to Leaf
and taking his measure from top to bottom by the eye. "He's so terrible
silly that he might ruin the concern."

"He don't want to go much; do ye, Thomas Leaf?" said William.

"Hee-hee! no; I don't want to. Only a teeny bit!"

"I be mortal afeard, Leaf, that you'll never be able to tell how many
cuts d'take to sharpen a spar," said Mail.

"I never had no head, never! that's how it happened to happen, hee-hee!"

They all assented to this, not with any sense of humiliating Leaf by
disparaging him after an open confession, but because it was an accepted
thing that Leaf didn't in the least mind having no head, that deficiency
of his being an unimpassioned matter of parish history.

"But I can sing my treble!" continued Thomas Leaf, quite delighted at
being called a fool in such a friendly way; "I can sing my treble as well
as any maid, or married woman either, and better! And if Jim had lived,
I should have had a clever brother! T