timbered, the roof being supported by huge arched beams curiously
and intricately carved. Long narrow boards on stout old trestles
occupied the centre, and these were spread with cloths of coarse
but spotlessly clean linen and furnished with antique plates,
tankards and other vessels of pewter which would have sold for a
far larger sum in the market than solid silver. A tall carved
chair was set at the head of the largest table, and in this Farmer
Jocelyn seated himself. The men now began to come in from the
fields in their work-a-day clothes, escorted by Ned Landon, their
only attempt at a toilet having been a wash and brush up in the
outhouses; and soon the hall presented a scene of lively bustle
and activity. Priscilla, entering it from the kitchen with her two
assistants, brought in three huge smoking joints on enormous
pewter dishes,--then followed other good things of all sorts,--
vegetables, puddings, pasties, cakes and fruit, which Innocent
helped to set out all along the boards in tempting array. It was a
generous supper fit for a "Harvest Home"--yet it was only Farmer
Jocelyn's ordinary way of celebrating the end of the haymaking,--
the real harvest home was another and bigger festival yet to come.
Robin Clifford began to carve a sirloin of beef,--Ned Landon, who
was nearly opposite him, actively apportioned slices of roast
pork, the delicacy most favoured by the majority, and when all the
knives and forks were going and voices began to be loud and
tongues discursive, Innocent slipped into a chair by Farmer
Jocelyn and sat between him and Priscilla. For not only the farm
hands but all the servants on the place were at table, this
haymaking supper being the annual order of the household. The
girl's small delicate head, with its coronal of wild roses, looked
strange and incongruous among the rough specimens of manhood about
her, and sometimes as the laughter became boisterous, or some