s natural. But you like to deserve a bit of
praise for winning; eh?"

Reuben walked away with the rescued Joseph at his side. Joseph was as
yet unconscious of his rescue, and was fully bent upon his message to
the earl.

"Theer's no denyin' that chap nothin," said Snac, looking after Reuben's
retiring figure. "He's got that form an' smilin' manner as'll tek
no such thing as a no. An' lettin' that alone," he continued, again
relapsing into candor, "he could punch my head if he wanted to, though
I'm a match for ere another man i' the parish--and he'd do it too, at
anny given minute, for all so mild as he is."

"He's the spit of what his uncle was," said the aged rustic. "When he
was a lad he was the best cudgel-player, the best man of his hands, and
the prettiest man of his feet from here to Castle Barfield."

"He's fell off of late 'ears, then," said Snac.

"Ah!" quavered the old fellow, "it's time as is too many for the best
on us, Mr. Eld. Who'd think as I'd iver stood again all comers for miles
and miles around for the ten-score yards? I did though!"

"Didst?" cried Snac. "Then tek a shillin' and get a drop o' good stuff
wi' it, an' warm up that old gizzard o' thine wi' thinkin' o' thy
younger days."

And away he swaggered, carrying his shilling's worth with him in the
commendations of the rustic circle. He was a young man who liked to be
well thought of, and to that end did most of his benefactions in the
open air.

In the mean time Reuben had disappeared with Joseph, and was already
engaged in spoiling the village sport. Joseph was so resolved upon the
collars and the cravat, and his imagination was so fired by the prospect
of those splendid additions to his toilet, that Reuben was compelled
to promise them from his own stores. Joseph became at once amenable to
reason, and promised to overlook his lordship's meanness.

"Are you going to do anything for his lordship to-day, Joseph?" his
protector asked him.

"No," said Joseph. "He's gi'en me a holiday. I tode him as 'twarn't
natural to think as a man 'ud want to go to work i' togs like thesen.
The fust day's wear, and all!"

"Well, if you _should_ care to earn a shilling--"

"I couldn't undertek a grimy job," said Joseph. "Not to-day. A message
now."

"A message? Could you take the message in a wheelbarrow, Joseph?"

"A barrer?" Joseph surveyed his arms and legs, and then took a grip of
the laced waistcoat with both hands.

"A message in a wheelba