business is! Are you mad or am I?"

Dixon eyed him calmly. He had by this time summoned to his aid the
semi-mystical courage given him occasionally by his evangelical faith. If
it was the Lord's will that such a thing should happen, why it was the
Lord's will; and it was no use whatever for Mr. Melrose or any one else
to kick against the pricks. So with much teasing deliberation, and
constantly interrupted by his angry master, he told the story of the
accident on the evening before, of Doctor Undershaw's appearance on the
scene, and of the storming of the Tower.

"Well, of all the presuming rascals!" said Melrose with slow fury, under
his breath, when the tale was done. "But we'll be even with him! Send a
man from the farm, at once, to the cottage hospital at Whitebeck. They've
got an ambulance--I commission it. It's a hospital case. They shall see
to it. Be quick! March!--do you hear?--I intended to quit of them--bag
and baggage!"

Dixon did not move.

"Doctor said if we were to move un now, it 'ud be manslaughter," he said
stolidly, "an' he'd have us 'op."

"Oh, he would, would he!" roared Melrose, "I'll see to that. Go along,
and do what you're told. D----n it! am I not to be obeyed, sir?"

Wherewith he hurried toward the house. Dixon looked after him, shook his
head, and instead of going toward the farm, quietly retreated round the
farther corner of the house to the kitchen. He was the only person at the
Tower who had ever dared to cross Melrose. He attempted it but rarely;