There was a pause of some minutes. Barton, however, did not like to give up his notions of _ill-nature_, and returned to the charge. "Still, I must say, neighbour Oldacre, that the parson speaks of these things much too plainly and too strongly; and, to tell you the truth, that is the reason why I so seldom go to hear him in church. It would not look well, you know, for a man like me _never_ to go to church at all, so I drop in sometimes when there is no sermon. I like to be _good-humoured_ and pleasant, and don't like to think of these melancholy subjects until I've occasion." Oldacre found that he was impenetrable by any thing that _he_ could say, and was not inclined to resume the conversation, and went up stairs to Fowler to ask him how he was. Barton quitted the house, but the door was hardly closed, when his _good-nature_ was put to a fresh trial of a different description. He was met by a stranger, who, having asked him whether his name was Barton, and received his answer that it was, put into his hands a paper, which he found was a notice to him as surveyor, that a certain part of the road in the parish had been indicted at the Quarter Sessions which were just over, and a true bill found. The fact was this.--A gentleman, who was going to the Sessions on business, had occasion to travel along the road, the bad state of which Mr. Bentley had pointed out to Farmer Barton. One of his coach-horses shyed at a heap of dung lying close to the road side, the coachman whipped him, the horses sprang forward, but in crossing the deep ruts, one of the fore springs of the carriage snapped, and the near horse was thrown down, and cut both his knees. The gentleman proceeded slowly to Chippingden; and while his servants were getting the spring made safe for the remainder of his journey, had the worst part of the road measured, and then travelling on to Sessions in the full heat of his anger and vexation, preferred a bill of indictment against the parish of Inglewood. This Farmer Barton thought the most _ill-natured_ proceeding that ever was known; and in the first warmth of his indignation said, that there should be no _putting off_, but that the parish should try it out at the following Sessions. He was still surveyor, for he had so entirely neglected calling out the statute-duty, and indeed every part of his office, that he was ashamed to attend the justice meeting, which was held for the purpose of appointing new surveyors; and felt pretty sure, that his non-attendance would not be taken notice of. The magistrates, every now and then, threatened _stoutly_, and talked of fining the absentees, but they would not be so _ill-natured_ as to carry their threats into execution; and the comfort and convenience of the public, and the real interests of the several parishes themselves, were sacrificed for the credit of their _good-nature_.