cut it on Wednesday when I was shaving; I do not know how many
times I have cut it of late, and all from impatience at seeing
Timothy Cooper at his work in the yard.'

'He's a downright lazy tyke!' said cousin Holman. 'He's not worth
his wage. There's but little he can do, and what he can do, he
does badly.'

'True,' said the minister. 'He is but, so to speak, a half-wit;
and yet he has got a wife and children.'

'More shame for him!'

'But that is past change. And if I turn him off; no one else will
take him on. Yet I cannot help watching him of a morning as he
goes sauntering about his work in the yard; and I watch, and I
watch, till the old Adam rises strong within me at his lazy ways,
and some day, I am afraid, I shall go down and send him about his
business--let alone the way in which he makes me cut myself while
I am shaving--and then his wife and children will starve. I wish
we could move to the grey room.'

I do not remember much more of my first visit to the Hope Farm.
We went to chapel in Heathbridge, slowly and decorously walking
along the lanes, ruddy and tawny with the colouring of the coming
autumn. The minister walked a little before us, his hands behind
his back, his head bent down, thinking about the discourse to be
delivered to his people, cousin Holman said; and we spoke low and
quietly, in order not to interrupt his thoughts. But I could not
help noticing the respectful greetings which he received from