red with conflict, and said, planking down the money with intense
pride--''Ere it is! I 'ad to labour for thre'pences, though,' would
merely nod uninterestedly. But still the Undern cheeses went to shows
labelled 'John Reddin, Esquire, per A. Vessons.'

At last the judges came out. The mere judging did not take long, for
Mr. James usually considered his exhibit the best, and said so; the
others, being only small-holders, were generally too polite to gainsay
him.

Edward and Hazel went into the barn where the exhibits were set out
with stern simplicity, looking brave and beautiful with their earthly
glamour. There were rolls of golden butter, nut-brown eggs, snowy
bouquets of broccoli, daffodils with the sun striking through their
aery petals, masses of dark wallflower where a stray bee revelled.
There was Abel's honey, with a large placard drawn by himself
proclaiming in drunken capitals:

ABEL WOODUS. BEE-MAN.
COFFINS. HONEY. WREATHS.

OPEN TO ENGAGEMENTS TO PLAY THE HARP AT
WEDDINGS, WAKES AND CLUB-DAYS.

The golden jars shone; the sections in their lace-edged boxes, whitely
sealed, were as provocative as the reserve of a fair woman.

Edward bought one for Hazel. 'To open on your wedding-day,' he said.
But the symbolism, so apparent to him, was lost on Hazel.