the poor, so that he
may go on in his evil ways. I told you all so, but it's come to him at
last."

"Oh dear me!" ejaculated the Vicar. "Keep my arm, David. Here, you
sir, get up."

"Shot me with a gun--shot me with a gun," yelled Pete, who had got hold
of one form of complaint, and kept to it.

"Silence, sir! It's all nonsense; no one fired a gun."

"Yes; shot me, and knocked me off the wall."

"Is he hurt?" asked the Vicar, as Uncle Richard now sat up.

"Don't think so, sir," said one of the village people. "We can't find
nothing the matter with him."

"I told you so--I told you all so," continued Mother Warboys, waving her
stick.

"And I tell you so," cried the Vicar angrily. "Go along home, you
wicked old she Shimei. How dare you come cursing here when your poor
neighbours are in trouble!"

"I--I--I don't care--I will say it," cried Mother Warboys.

"You dare to say another word, and you shall have no dole next Sunday,"
cried the Vicar angrily.

"I--I don't care; I say it's come home to him at last. I always said it
would."

"Yes, you wicked old creature; and in spite of your vanity you are not a
prophetess. Take that old woman home," cried the Vicar fiercely; but no
one stirred.

"What, are you all afraid of her?"

"She'll get cursing and ill-wishing us if we do, sir," said one of the
men present.

"I'll take her home, sir," cried David. "Don't s'pose she'll hurt me
much if she do. Come along, old lady, and you, Pete, take hold of her
other arm."

Pete obeyed, and seemed to forget his injuries, taking Mother Warboys'
other arm, and helping her out of the yard, she saying no more, but
shaking her head, and muttering that she "always knowed how it would
be."

By this time Uncle Richard was sufficiently recovered to walk about;
and, beckoning Tom to him, he took his arm and went into the workshop,
where the silvered piece of speculum lay shattered; and in addition to
the windows being broken, the bench was split from end to end, and a
table and stools knocked over.

"Look at the speculum, Tom. Is it hurt?"

Tom's ears were still ringing as he crossed to where they had laid the
disc of glass face downwards; and on uncovering it, he found it
uninjured, and said so, making his uncle draw a deep breath as if much
relieved.

"Now lock up the place, Tom," he said, "and let's go indoors. I am too
much shaken to say much, so ask Mr Maxted to request the people to go
away now, and th