'Who's to meet the groom from Farnley? Never will I go!'

'If you're so damned impudent, you'll have to leave.'

'Who's to meet the groom?' Vessons spoke with surly, astonished
meekness.

'Groom? Groom be hanged! Wire to him.'

'It'll take me the best part of two hour to go and telegrapht. And it
cosses money. And dinner at the auction cosses money.'

'Oh!' cried Reddin with intense irritation, 'take this, you fool!'

He flung his purse at Vessons.

'Well, well,' thought Vessons, 'I mun yumour 'im. He's fretched along
of her marrying the minister. "Long live the minister!" says Andrew.'




Chapter 18


Next morning Vessons went off in high feather; Hazel was so safely
disposed of. Reddin left at the same time, and all the long May day
Undern was deserted, and lay still and silent as if pondering on its
loneliness. Reddin did not return until after night-fall.