next time your good
spirits lead you into making jokes at Mr. Jago's expense, don't carry
them quite so far. I am sure you meant no harm, Mr. Silas. Will you
gratify me by saying so yourself? I want to see you and Mr. Jago shake
hands."

John Jago instantly held out his hand, with an assumption of good
feeling which was a little overacted, to my thinking. Silas Meadowcroft
made no advance of the same friendly sort on his side.

"Let him go about his business," said Silas. "I won't waste any more
words on him, Mr. Lefrank, to please _you_. But (saving your presence)
I'm d--d if I take his hand!"

Further persuasion was plainly useless, addressed to such a man as
this. Silas gave me no further opportunity of remonstrating with him,
even if I had been inclined to do so. He turned about in sulky silence,
and, retracing his steps along the path, disappeared round the corner
of the house. The laborers withdrew next, in different directions, to
begin the day's, work. John Jago and I were alone.

I left it to the man of the wild brown eyes to speak first.

"In half an hour's time, sir," he said, "I shall be going on business
to Narrabee, our market-town here. Can I take any letters to the post
for you? or is there anything else that I can do in the town?"

I thanked him, and declined both proposals. He made me another
deferential bow, and withdrew into the house. I mechanically followed
the path in the direction which Silas had taken before me.

Turning the corner of the house, and walking on for a little way, I
found myself at the entrance to the stables, and face to face with
Silas Meadowcroft once more. He had his elbows on the gate of the yard,
swinging it slowly backward and forward, and turning and twisting a
straw between his teeth. When he saw me approaching him, he advanced a
step from the gate, and made an effort to excuse himself, with a very
ill grace.

"No offense, mister. Ask me what you will besides, and I'll do it for
you. But don't ask me to shake hands with John Jago; I hate him too
badly for that. If I touched him with one hand, sir, I tell you this, I
should throttle him with the other."

"That's your feeling toward the man, Mr. Silas, is it?"

"That's my feeling, Mr. Lefrank; and I'm not ashamed of it either."

"Is there any such place as a church in your neighborhood, Mr. Silas?"

"Of course there is."

"And do you ever go to it?"

"Of course I do."

"At long intervals, Mr. Silas?"

"