h of them
would have borrowed from him if Saunders hadn't cooled them off.
Saunders said it was a Jew's interest he was asking--because there was
security--but he wasn't going to accept a farthing less than his
shilling a pound for three months--not he! So they might take it or
leave it. And Mrs. Moulsey got hers from the Building Society, and Sam
Field made shift to go without. And John Bolderfield was three pounds
poorer that quarter than he need have been--all along of Saunders. And
now Saunders was talking "agen him" like this--blast him!

"Oh, an' then he went on," pursued Bessie with gusto, "about your bein'
too ignorant to put it in the post-office. 'Ee said you'd think
Edwards would go an' spend it" (Edwards was the post-master), "an' then
he laughed fit to split 'imself. Yer couldn't see more nor the length
of your own nose, he said--it was edication _you_ wanted. As for 'im,
'ee said, 'ee'd have kep' it for you if you'd asked him, but you'd been
like a bear with a sore 'ead, 'ee said, ever since Mrs. Moulsey's
affair--so 'ee didn't suppose you would."

"Well, 'ee's about right there," said John, grimly; "ee's talkin' sense
for onst when 'ee says that. I'd dig a hole in the hill and bury it
sooner nor I'd trust it to 'im--I would, by----" he swore vigorously.
"A thieving set of magpies is all them Saunders--cadgin' 'ere and
cadgin' there."

He spoke with fierce contempt, the tacit hatred of years leaping to
sight. Bessie's bright brown eyes looked at him with sympathy.

"It was just his nassty spite," she said. "He knew _'ee_ could never
ha' done it--not what you've done--out o' your wages. Not unless 'ee
got Sally to tie 'im to the dresser with ropes so as 'ee couldn't go
a-near the Spotted Deer no more!"

She laughed like a merry child at her own witticism, and John relished
it too, though he was not in a laughing mood.

"Why," continued Bessie with enthusiasm, "it was Muster Drew as said to
me the other afternoon, as we was walkin' 'ome from the churchyard,
says 'ee, 'Mrs. Costrell, I call it splendid what John's done--I _do_,'
'ee says. 'A labourer on fifteen shillin's a week--why, it's an
example to the county,' 'ee says. ''Ee ought to be showed.'"

John's face relaxed. The temper and obstinacy in the eyes began to
yield to the weak complacency which was their more normal expression.

There was silence for a minute or two. Bessie sat with her hands on
her lap and her face turned tow