forward that young woman that only last night I was saying was our Dick's
sweet-heart, but I suppose can't be, and making much of her in the sight
of the congregation, and thinking he'll win her by showing her off. Well,
perhaps 'a woll."

"Then the music is second to the woman, the other churchwarden is second
to Shiner, the pa'son is second to the churchwardens, and God A'mighty is
nowhere at all."

"That's true; and you see," continued Reuben, "at the very beginning it
put me in a stud as to how to quarrel wi' en. In short, to save my soul,
I couldn't quarrel wi' such a civil man without belying my conscience.
Says he to father there, in a voice as quiet as a lamb's, 'William, you
are a' old aged man, as all shall be, so sit down in my easy-chair, and
rest yourself.' And down father zot. I could fain ha' laughed at thee,
father; for thou'st take it so unconcerned at first, and then looked so
frightened when the chair-bottom sunk in."

"You see," said old William, hastening to explain, "I was scared to find
the bottom gie way--what should I know o' spring bottoms?--and thought I
had broke it down: and of course as to breaking down a man's chair, I
didn't wish any such thing."

"And, neighbours, when a feller, ever so much up for a miff, d'see his
own father sitting in his enemy's easy-chair, and a poor chap like Leaf
made the best of, as if he almost had brains--why, it knocks all the wind
out of his sail at once: it did out of mine."

"If that young figure of fun--Fance Day, I mean," said Bowman, "hadn't
been so mighty forward wi' showing herself off to Shiner and Dick and the