'Gie me notice, then,' said Vessons, falling back on the well-worn
formula, and scoring his usual triumph.

Reddin had the faults of his class, but turning an old servant adrift
was not one of them. Vessons traded on this, and invariably said and
did exactly what he liked.




Chapter 7


When Hazel got in, her father had finished his breakfast and was busy
at work.

'Brought the wreath-frames?' he asked, without looking up.

'Ah.'

'He's jead at last. At the turn of the night. They came after the
coffin but now. I'll be able to get them there new section crates I
wanted. He's doing more for me, wanting a coffin, and him stiff and
cold, than what he did in the heat of life.'

'Many folks be like that,' said Hazel out of her new wisdom. Neither of
them reflected that Abel had always been like that towards Hazel, that
she was becoming more like it to him every year.

Abel made no remark at all about Hazel's adventures, and she preserved