that I tried this day week in Holloway with
great effect. . . . I take out my watch an' count ten, very slowly,
giving the young men the chance who shall rush up before the counting
is over. It acted famously at Holloway."

"Oh, very well," said Farmer Best doubtfully, taken off his guard.
"The gen'leman from London," he announced, "will count ten slowly,
an' we're to watch out what happens. He says it acted very well at
Holloway last week."

On the instant, as Mr Boult drew out his watch, the audience hushed
itself, as for a conjuring seance. Mr Hambly passed a hand over his
brow, and sighed.

"One--two--three--" counted Mr Boult, and a mortuary silence
descended on all.

"--four--five--six--seven--"

"Pray on, brother Boult! 'Tis workin', 'tis workin'," squeaked up a
mock-religious voice from the back.

Some one tittered audibly, and the strain broke in a general shout of
laughter. Old men, up to now profoundly serious, lay back and held
their sides. Old women leaned forward and searched for their
handkerchiefs, their bonnets nodding. Mr Boult pocketed his watch,
and under his breath used ferocious language.

"I don't wonder!" said Farmer Best with a forced attempt at sympathy.
Then he, too, broke down and cast himself back in his chair
haw-hawing.

There was a sudden stir in the crowd at the back, and young Obed
Pearce came thrusting his way through the press.

"Well--I don't care who laughs, but I'm _one!_" growled young Obed,
half defiantly, half sullenly, and tossed his cap on to the platform
like a challenger in a wrestling ring.

"And I'm another!" announced the clear quiet voice of Seth Minards,
thrilling the room as the hush fell.

"Aw, 'tis Seth!" "Seth's a beautiful speaker once he gets goin'."
"But what's the meanin'?" "Seth, of all the boys!" "Let Seth
speak!"

"Ha! What did I promise you?" proclaimed Mr Boult triumphantly,
reaching down a hand. "Here, clamber up to the platform, my lad,
an' give 'em a talk. . . . You can talk, they're saying.
Strike while the iron's hot."

Seth took his hand and vaulted to the platform; but dropped it on the
instant and turned to the meeting. "I come here, friends," he
announced, "because Mr Obed's offered himself, an' I don't see no way
but I must go too. . . . That's it: I don't agree wi' the ha'af
that's been said to-night, but I don't see no other way. We've got
to go, because--" his voice sank here, as though he were communing
with