he said as how you would know where to find him if you
wanted him."

"That's just what I don't know. However, if he's there now I'll go to
him. It would have been better far that he should have come to me."

"I told 'un so, Mr. Fenwick, I did, indeed."

"It does not signify. I will go to him; only it cannot be to-day, as
I have promised to take my wife over to Charlicoats. But I'll come
down immediately after breakfast to-morrow. You think he'll be still
there?"

"I be sure he will, Mr. Fenwick. He and feyther have taken on again,
till it's beautiful to see. There was none of 'em feyther ever loved
like he,--only one." Thereupon the poor woman burst out into tears,
and covered her face with her handkerchief. "He never makes half so
much account of my Fan, that never had a fault belonging to her."

"If Sam will stick to that it will be well for him."

"He's taken up extraordinary with the repairs, Mr. Fenwick. He's in
and about and over the place, looking to everything; and feyther says
he knows so much about it, he b'lieves the boy could do it all out o'
his own head. There's nothing feyther ever liked so much as folks to
be strong and clever."

"Perhaps the Squire's tradesmen won't like all that. Is Mitchell
going to do it?"

"It ain't a doing in that way, Mr. Fenwick. The Squire is allowing
L200, and feyther is to get it done. Mister Mitchell is to see that
it's done proper, no doubt."

"And now tell me, Mrs. Brattle, what has Sam been about all the time
that he was away?"

"That's just what I cannot tell you, Mr. Fenwick."

"Your husband has asked him, I suppose?"

"If he has, he ain't told me, Mr. Fenwick. I don't care to come
between them with hints and jealousies, suspecting like. Our Fan says
he's been out working somewhere Lavington way; but I don't know as
she knows."

"Was he decent looking when he came home?"

"He wasn't much amiss, Mr. Fenwick. He has that way with him that he
most always looks decent;--don't he, sir?"

"Had he any money?"

"He had a some'at, because when he was working, moving the big lumber
as though for bare life, he sent one of the boys for beer, and I
see'd him give the boy the money."

"I'm sorry for it. I wish he'd come back without a penny, and with
hunger like a wolf in his stomach, and with his clothes all rags,
so that he might have had a taste of the suffering of a vagabond's
life."

"Just like the Prodigal Son, Mr. Fenwick?"

"Just like the Prodigal So