ice. Blamed if I doan't
advise everybody nowadays! Us must all come to it. Look round about an'
try to love a woman. 'T will surprise 'e an' spoil sleep if you can
bring yourself to it. But the cuddlin' of a soft gal doan't weaken man's
thews and sinews neither. It hardens 'em, I reckon, an' puts fight in
the most poor-spirited twoad as ever failed in love. 'Tis a manly thing,
an' 'boldens the heart like; an', arter she's said 'Yes' to 'e, you'll
find a wonnerful change come awver life. 'Tis all her, then. The most
awnself[8] man feels it more or less, an' gets shook out of his shell.
You'll knaw some day. Of course I speaks as wan auld in love an' married
into the bargain."

[8] _Awnself_=selfish.

"You speak from experience, I know. And is Phoebe as wise as you, Will?"

"Waitin' be harder for a wummon. They've less to busy the mind, an' less
mind to busy, for that matter."

"That's ungallant."

"I doan't knaw. 'Tis true, anyway. I shouldn't have failed in love wi'
her if she'd been cleverer'n me."

"Or she with you, perhaps?"

"P'r'aps not. Anyway as it stands we'm halves of a whole: made for man
and wife. I reckon I weern't wan to miss my way in love like some poor
fules, as wastes it wheer they might see't wasn't wanted if they'd got
eyes in their heads."

"What it is to be so wise!"

Will laughed joyously in his wisdom.

"Very gude of 'e to say that. 'Tis a happy thing to have sense enough.
Not but we larn an' larn."

"So we should. Well, I must be off now. I'm safe on the Moor to-day!"

"Ess, by the looks of it. Theer'll likely come some mist after noon, but
shouldn't be very thick."

So they parted, Blanchard having unconsciously sown the seed of an ugly
crop that would take long in reaping. His remarks concerning Clement
Hicks were safe enough with Martin, but another had heard them as he
worked within earshot of his master. Bonus, though his judgment was
scanty, entertained a profound admiration for Will; and thus it came
about, that a few days later, when in Chagford, he called at the "Green
Man" and made some grave mischief while he sang his master's praises. He
extolled the glorious promise of Newtake, and the great improvements
already visible thereon; he reflected not a little of Will's own
flamboyant manner to the secret entertainment of those gathered in the
bar, and presently he drew down upon himself some censure.

Abraham Chown, the police inspector, first shook his head and prop