glasses, whereon the foreman led us up to due seats on blocks of
stone, and said:

"Well, neighbours, drink to my brag coming true, or I shall think you
don't believe me! Up there!" said he, hailing the scaffold, "are you
coming down for a glass?" Three of the workmen came running down the
ladder as men with good "building legs" will do; but the others
didn't answer, except the joker (if he must so be called), who called
out without turning round: "Excuse me, neighbours for not getting
down. I must get on: my work is not superintending, like the
gaffer's yonder; but, you fellows, send us up a glass to drink the
haymakers' health." Of course, Philippa would not turn away from her
beloved work; but the other woman carver came; she turned out to be
Philippa's daughter, but was a tall strong girl, black-haired and
gipsey-like of face and curiously solemn of manner. The rest
gathered round us and clinked glasses, and the men on the scaffold
turned about and drank to our healths; but the busy little woman by
the door would have none of it all, but only shrugged her shoulders
when her daughter came up to her and touched her.

So we shook hands and turned our backs on the Obstinate Refusers,
went down the slope to our boat, and before we had gone many steps
heard the full tune of tinkling trowels mingle with the humming of
the bees and the singing of the larks above the little plain of
Basildon.



CHAPTER XXVII: THE UPPER WATERS