times to friends. It would not be much to either of them."

"Show my empty pockets to Susanna's father! Oh, Will! how can you be
so cruel?"

"Meadows, then."

"No use for me, I've just offended him a hit; beside he's a man that
never knew trouble or ill luck in his life; they are like flints, all
that sort."

"Well, look here, I'm pretty well with Meadows. I'll ask him if you
will try uncle; the first that meets his man to begin."

"That sounds fair," said George, "but I can't--well--yes," said he,
suddenly changing his mind. "I agree," said he, with simple cunning,
and lowered his eyes; but suddenly raising them, he said cheerfully,
"Why, you're in luck, Bill; here's your man," and he shot like an
arrow into his own kitchen.

"Confound it," said the other, fairly caught.

Meadows, it is to be observed, was wandering about the premises until
such time as Robinson should return; and while the brothers were
arguing, he had been in the barn, and finding old Merton there had
worked still higher that prudent man's determination to break off
matters between his daughter and the farmer of "The Grove."

After the usual salutations William Fielding, sore against the grain,
began: