knew that she meant to be mistress of Undern. Mr. James was getting on
well with the bravado.

'What do I care what people think? Dear me! All the world may see me
get my prize.'

Then he caught Abel's satiric eye, and went all to pieces. He clutched
at his first attitude--the business-like--and so began all over again,
and managed to get through by not looking in Abel's direction, being
upheld by the knowledge that his pockets were getting very full.

When he read out, 'Cherries, bottled. Mrs. Marston,' and Edward went to
receive the prize, Reddin shouldered up to Hazel and asked:

'What time's he going?'

'I dunno.'

'Don't forget, mind.'

'Oh, Mr. Reddin, I mun go! What for wunna you let me be?'

But Reddin, finding Miss Clomber's eye on him, was gone.

Mr. James had come to the end of the list. He read out Abel's name and
that of an old bent man with grey elf-locks, a famous bee-master. Mr.
James looked at Abel as much as to say, 'You've got your prize, you
see! It's quite fair.'

'Thank yer,' said Abel to Miss Clomber, and then to James with fine