"Well, yes; but this is a special occasion. Mr. Lomax comes home with his wife in the afternoon, and I'm going to meet them at Heathley. It isn't every day, Jose, I have to meet a honeymoon couple." "Not _sich_ a couple," said Jose, slowly. "What do you mean, man? You look as sour as a winter apple over it." "I've heärd tales as are like to set a man's back up. Oh, ay, there's been queer goings on up to Teewit House." Partly from habit, partly from the spirit of the country, Gabriel was wont to humour old Binns; but he frowned to-night as Jose touched on matters about which he himself had been sorely exercised. "Nonsense! I wonder at you, Jose, listening to such old woman's talk." "Wondering won't shape things different, an' that's Bible truth. What for doesn't th' Manor trap wend to th' station, i' place o' yourn?" "Because," said the preacher, with an accent there was no mistaking--"because I asked Mrs. Lomax to let me go and meet them. There are too many idle tongues about; but I fancy folks know I shouldn't run after wastrels--and it may be as well to show what I think at once, and have done with it." "I doan't hold wi' kissing," muttered Jose, doggedly--"leastways, while thy wife's another chap's. Afore marriage, I allus did say, fowks ought to think shame to kiss an' slaver ower one another; an' after ye're wed--well, ye're noan so set on it, an' there's no harm done. Them's _my_ views--gie ower, lass! Dost 'a want to upset th' pail, tha silly wench?" The set of Jose's shoulders indicated that the subject was closed, so far as he was concerned; so Gabriel, with another reminder about the conveyance, went back to the house, there to reckon up, for the hundredth time, the twisted ways of his friend's wooing.