"Oh, yes; but it drags a bit sometimes. He's had a good year, however; and his corn is above average as he admits himself, so it must be wonderful." They entered, and Joe Elvin--a tall, thin man with a long nose, a black beard and a discontented face--himself answered Bullstone's knock. They shook hands and Jacob explained that he had called on pleasure, not business. The farmer welcomed them and took them into the kitchen, where his wife was making pastry, and two little boys played in a corner with the dried knuckle bones of sheep. "Just want to introduce Mrs. Bullstone to be," said Jacob. Mrs. Elvin, a handsome, big-built woman, showed pleasure and congratulated the lovers. Her little boys came and shook hands. They were a well-mannered, cheerful pair and resembled their mother. "Going to make farmers of 'em I hope, Joe?" asked the owner of Owley; but Mr. Elvin was doubtful. "Robert shapes for it," he answered. "But Jack is all for the sea." "That's because he doesn't know anything about the sea," asserted Jacob. "You keep him on the land, Joe. There's little enough to be picked up off the sea, by all accounts." The men strolled into the yard presently, for Elvin had a sick sheep-dog and Bullstone readily offered to see it. "Just my luck if he's going to die," said Joe moodily. "Best ever I had, and sheep-dogs be so scarce you can't get a trained one over distemper for money." "He's not going to die," declared Bullstone. "He's too thin--same as you are yourself." He prescribed for the dog and Joe continued to grumble until Bullstone grew impatient. "What the mischief's the matter with you? Always grizzling for nought. A man in fair health with a good wife, a good mother and two fine, healthy sons. What more d'you want?" Joe laughed mirthlessly. "It sounds all right to your ears I dare say. But if you looked underneath, perhaps you'd find a different story. Don't much matter how good people are if they ain't good to you? Nobody knows where the shoe pinches except the wearer, and you've no right to say I'm one of the lucky ones, because you don't know nothing about it." "Don't meet trouble half-way, Joe, and keep your eye on the bright side." "Time's past for silly sayings. Life's broke me and I know it; but why it's broke me, and how it's broke me, be my own business." "Rubbish and stuff! Get some physic for your bad digestion and you'll soon feel hopefuller. It ain't life's broke you, but your own low-spirited outlook on life. Life don't break us. It's the canker inside spoils all when it works through. You can't help being a melancholy sort of man, I suppose. That's your nature. But you've got brains in your head and reasoning powers, and you ought to fight yourself and have it out, and balance your good against your bad; and look round with seeing eyes and count how many can't hold a candle to you for fortune."