nions had taken puff by puff
together for some time, Musgrave said--

"Thomas, my lad, you are very unhappy. I am happy, and I think a man has
no more right to keep happiness to himself than he has to keep money to
himself. I am going to share with you. Now, I'm an old fellow that's got
near done with the world, and you are a slashing young chap, and the
girls look after you. But still, though I am parting with the world, and
you have got a long time to stay in it, I am better off than you. The
sight of these flowers makes me joyful, but it only seems to make you
dour. Now, shall I tell you how it is that I am so happy?"

"I don't want to be happy. What's that got to do with the thing? If you
tell me that there's fifty sovereigns buried at the bottom of Lyne Hill
there, I'll go and try to dig the hill away and get at them, because the
trouble's worth taking; but I don't see the fun of seeking for what you
call happiness."

"Well, then, Thomas, how much do you expect to make by trouting
to-night?"

"Well, if there's any luck, Jem and me will divide fifteen shillings
between us."

"Very good; then I'll give you seven-and-six-pence now. Here are your
three half-crowns. Will you come with me?"

The sulky giant smiled sourly and said, "I don't see why I should not.
Where are you for?"

"Well, I am going to preach at the chapel, Thomas, and I would like you
to hear me and walk home with me, and I think that when I have landed
you at your house that you won't be sorry for missing the trouting."

Tommy rose heavily up, shook the fragments of dry grass from his patched
garments, and signified that he was ready. Musgrave took his arm, and at
once assumed an attitude of companionship and equality. He talked with
this churl about all manner of trivialities, flattered him, appealed to
his sense of shrewdness, made little jokes suitable to his wit, and
finally succeeded in making him feel himself to be rather a clever and
entertaining person. The afternoon sun sloped lower and lower as the two
strolled over the moor. Musgrave's thoughts were high, although his
words ran upon childish things. He had no particular artistic sense, but
the joy of colour, the blaze of the sky, the warm and exhilarating air,
made him feel as though he must utter praises. After passing some miles
of strange moorland, covered with the blaze of gorse, and the
multitudinous flash of marshy pools, the two arrived at a curious square
building, which st