do at the vicarage. Come."

Ishmael recognised the tone of authority. He was an obedient child
simply because he was so proud he would not fight a losing battle.
Sooner than be conquered he obeyed as though he were doing the thing
commanded merely because he himself wished to, and for the same reason
if he could forestall a command by his own action he did. He came to the
Parson's side.

"Must be going, Phoebe," he remarked carelessly; "I've a heap of
things to do for to-night, you see. Morning, Mr. Lenine!"

And he set off again, with his thumbs in his belt.




CHAPTER III

THE KITCHEN


Annie Ruan and three of the children were assembled in the great kitchen
preparing for the supper party that was to be held after the Neck had
been cried. The world without was still steeped in the golden light of
full afternoon, but the small windows only looked on to the courtyard
and let little of the gleam into the low-ceiled room; dimness veiled the
corners, and through it each plate on the old dresser held a faintly
glimmering crescent of light. On a sheet of iron laid upon the open
hearth the last loaves of barley-bread were baking under a crock, and