“Lord A’mighty bless you, miss! I have been that concerned about the old man—he is but fifty, but looks older, because of his two accidents. H’s shy o’ asking for hisself, because he was dismissed by the late lord; the upper keeper laid things on him he’d no right to. He’s a man, miss, who don’t set no store on his self, because he has lost a thumb and two fingers, and got a dislocated thigh. But there’s more in Samuel than folks fancy, I ought to know best, us have kept company twenty years.” “Are you ever going to get married?” Joan shook her head. “But how is it,” asked Arminell, “that you have not been married yet, after courting so long?” “First the bursted gun spoiled the chance—but Lord, miss, though he’s lost half his hand, he is as clever with what remains as most men with two.” “He was unable to work for his living, I suppose?” “And next he were throwed down off a waggon, and he’s been lame ever since. But, Lord, miss! he do get along with the bad leg, beautiful, quite beautiful.” “You are not nearer your marriage than you were twenty years ago,” said Arminell, pitifully. “I have been that troubled for Samuel,” said Joan, not replying, but continuing her own train of thought; “I’ve feared he’d be took off to the union, and then the old man would ha’ died, not having me to walk out with of a Sunday and bring him a little ’baccy. And I—I’d ha’ nort in the world to live for, or to hoard my wages for, wi’out my old Samuel.” The woman paused, turned round and looked at the feeble, disabled wreck of a man, who put his crippled hand to his forelock and saluted. “How came he to fall off the waggon?” asked Arminell. “Well, miss, it came of my being on the waggon,” explained Ceely, “I couldn’t have falled off otherwise.” “Were you asleep? Was the waggon in motion?” Joan hastily interfered, it would not do for too close an enquiry to be made into how it came that Samuel was incapable of keeping himself firm on the waggon; any more than it would do to go too narrowly into the occasion of his shooting off his hand. “What was it, miss, you was a-saying? Nearer our marriage? That is as the Lord wills. But—miss—us two have set our heads on one thing. I don’t mind telling you, as you’re so kind as to promise you’d get Samuel a situation as kitchen-maid.” “I did not promise that!” “Well, miss, you said you’d speak about it, and I know well enough that what you speak about will be done.” “What is it you have set your heart on? Can I help you to that?”