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that sort； by her dress； but I didn’t know she was a preacher。”
“It’s a true word as I say； sir；” rejoined Mr。 Rann； compressing
his mouth into a semicircular form and pausing long enough to
indicate three notes of exclamation。 “She preached on the Green
last night； an’ she’s laid hold of Chad’s Bess； as the girl’s been i’
fits welly iver sin’。”
“Well； Bessy Cranage is a hearty…looking lass； I daresay she’ll
come round again； Joshua。 Did anybody else go into fits？”
“No； sir； I canna say as they did。 But there’s no knowin’ what’ll
come； if we’re t’ have such preachin’s as that a…goin’ on ivery
week—there’ll be no livin’ i’ th’ village。 For them Methodisses
make folks believe as if they take a mug o’ drink extry； an’ make
theirselves a bit comfortable； they’ll have to go to hell for ’t as sure
as they’re born。 I’m not a tipplin’ man nor a drunkard—nobody
can say it on me—but I like a extry quart at Easter or Christmas
time； as is nat’ral when we’re goin’ the rounds a…singin’； an’ folks
offer ’t you for nothin’； or when I’m a…collectin’ the dues； an’ I like
a pint wi’ my pipe； an’ a neighbourly chat at Mester Casson’s now
an’ then； for I was brought up i’ the Church； thank God； an’ ha’
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been a parish clerk this two…an’…thirty year： I should know what
the church religion is。”
“Well； what’s your advice； Joshua？ What do you think should
be done？”
“Well； Your Reverence； I’m not for takin’ any measures again’
the young woman。 She’s well enough if she’d let alone preachin’；
an’ I hear as she’s a…goin’ away back to her own country soon。
She’s Mr。 Poyser’s own niece； an’ I donna wish to say what’s
anyways disrespectful o’ th’ family at th’ Hall Farm； as I’ve
measured for shoes； little an’ big； welly iver sin’ I’ve been a
shoemaker。 But there’s that Will Maskery； sir as is the
rampageousest Methodis as can be； an’ I make no doubt it was
him as stirred up th’ young woman to preach last night； an’ he’ll be
a…bringin’ other folks to preach from Treddles’on； if his comb isn’t
cut a bit； an’ I think as he should be let know as he isna t’ have the
makin’ an’ mendin’ o’ church carts an’ implemen’s； let alone
stayin’ i’ that house an’ yard as is Squire Donnithorne’s。”
“Well； but you say yourself； Joshua； that you never knew any
one come to preach on the Green before； why should you think
they’ll come again？ The Methodists don’t come to preach in little
villages like Hayslope； where there’s only a handful of labourers；
too tired to listen to them。 They might almost as well go and
preach on the Binton Hills。 Will Maskery is no preacher himself； I
think。”
“Nay； sir； he’s no gift at stringin’ the words together wi’out
book； he’d be stuck fast like a cow i’ wet clay。 But he’s got tongue
enough to speak disrespectful about’s neebors； for he said as I was
a blind Pharisee—a…usin’ the Bible i’ that way to find nick…names
for folks as are his elders an’ betters！—and what’s worse； he’s been
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heard to say very unbecomin’ words about Your Reverence； for I
could bring them as ’ud swear as he called you a ‘dumb dog；’ an’ a
‘idle shepherd。’ You’ll forgi’e me for sayin’ such things over
again。”
“Better not； better not； Joshua。 Let evil words die as soon as
they’re spoken。 Will Maskery might be a great deal worse fellow
than he is。 He used to be a wild drunken rascal； neglecting his
work and beating his wife； they told me； now he’s thrifty and
decent； and he and his wife look comfortable together。 If you can
bring me any proof that he interferes with his neighbours and
creates any disturbance； I shall think it my duty as a clergyman
and a magistrate to interfere。 But it wouldn’t become wise people
like you and me to be making a fuss about trifles； as if we thought
the Church was in danger because Will Maskery lets his tongue
wag rather foolishly； or a young woman talks in a serious way to a
handful of people on the Green。 We must ‘live and let live；’ Joshua；
in religion as well as in other things。 You go on doing your duty； as
parish clerk and sexton； as well as you’ve always done it； and
making those capital thick boots for your neighbours； and things
won’t go far wrong in Hayslope； depend upon it。”
“Your reverence is very good to say so； an’ I’m sensable as； you
not livin’ i’ the parish； there’s more upo’ my shoulders。”
“To be sure； and you must mind and not lower the Church in
people’s eyes by seeming to be frightened about it for a little thing；
Joshua。 I shall trust to your good sense； now to take no notice at all
of what Will Maskery says； either about you or me。 You and your
neighbours can go on taking your pot of beer soberly； when you’ve
done your day’s work； like good churchmen； and if Will Maskery
doesn’t like to join you； but to go to a prayer…meeting at
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Treddleston instead； let him； that’s no business of yours； so long as
he doesn’t hinder you from doing what you like。 And as to people
saying a few idle words about us； we must not mind that； any more
than the old church…steeple minds the rooks cawing about it。 Will
Maskery comes to church every Sunday afternoon； and does his
wheelwright’s business steadily in the weekdays； and as long as he
does that he must be let alone。”
“Ah； sir； but when he comes to church； he sits an’ shakes his
head； an’ looks as sour an’ as coxy when we’re a…singin’ as I should
like to fetch him a rap across the jowl—God forgi’e me—an’ Mrs。
Irwine； an’ Your Reverence too； for speakin’ so afore you。 An’ he
said as our Christmas singin’ was no better nor the cracklin’ o’
thorns under a pot。”
“Well； he’s got a bad ear for music； Joshua。 When people have
wooden heads； you know； it can’t be helped。 He won’t bring the
other people in Hayslope round to his opinion； while you go on
singing as well as you do。”
“Yes； sir； but it turns a man’s stomach t’ hear the Scripture
misused i’ that way。 I know as much o’ the words o’ the Bible as he
does； an’ could say the Psalms right through i’ my sleep if you was
to pinch me； but I know better nor to take ’em to say my own say
wi’。 I might as well take the Sacriment…cup home and use it at
meals。”
“That’s a very sensible remark of yours； Joshua； but； as I said
before—”
While Mr。 Irwine was speaking； the sound of a booted step and
the clink of a spur were heard on the stone floor of the entrance…
hall； and Joshua Rann moved hastily aside from the doorway to
make room for some one who paused there； and said； in a ringing
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tenor voice；
“Godson Arthur—may he come in？”
“Come in； come in； godson！” Mrs。 Irwine answered； in the deep
half…masculine tone which belongs to the vigorous old woman； and
there entered a young gentleman in a riding…dress； with his right
arm in a sling； whereupon followed that pleasant confusion of
laughing interjections； and hand…shakings； and “How are you’s？”
mingled with joyous short barks and wagging of tails on the part of
the canine members of the family； which tells that the visitor is on
the b