There was a pause for a few minutes, during which old Ross gave his orders to the landlord, and lit his pipe, smoking afterwards in quiet consciousness that he was being furtively glanced at by all assembled, and that it was only with the expectation of hearing more that they were so quiet of tongue. "Been having a run up to London, Master Ross, I hear," said Warton, the saddler, at last. "Yes, Master Warton, yes; I've had a run up amongst the soot and smoke," said Michael Ross. "And was strange and glad to get back again, I'll be bound," said Tomlinson, while Fullerton lay back in his armed Windsor chair, staring straight up at the ceiling, with the calm self-satisfaction of a man who knew all that was being asked. "Well, yes, neighbour," said Michael Ross, thoughtfully, "I must own that I was glad to get back again. London's a wearisome place, and the din and rattle of the streets is enough to muddle any man's brains. It was quite a relief to turn down the narrow lane to my son's chambers, and get out of the buzz and whirr. My bark mill's nowt to it." "Saw your son, did you?" said Warton. "How's he getting on?" "Oh, he's getting on right enough," said the old man, proudly. "He's getting on." "Gotten to be a big loyer, eh?" said Smithson. "Why, Master Ross, sir, we shall hev to get him down here to take up our cases at County Court." "Nay, nay, nay," said old Ross, chuckling. "Not yet--not yet. Theres a deal to learn to get to be a big loyer; but my sons working away hard now he's getting a bit over his trouble." "Trouble?" said Fullerton, bringing his eyes down from the ceiling. "He hasn't got into trouble, I hope?" "Nay, nay, only about the bit o' trouble down here." "Not going to hev him before the magistrates, are they, Master Ross?" said Warton. "Magistrates? What, my son?" said the old man, firing up. "Not they. He'd a deal better right to have some one else before them. My son never did no wrong." "But they say he knocked young Cyril about with a hedge-stake," said Smithson. "Tchah! Lies?" said the old man, angrily. "I dare say he hit him. So would I if I'd been a young man, and come back and found my young lady stole away like that. Yes, I'd ha' done the same." "Hah, yes," said Tomlinson, thoughtfully, as if he were going back to past times. "It is hard on a man. But I don't know, Master Ross; if a man's got a bad tooth it's best out, and it has saved your lad perhaps from many a sore and aching time in the future." "I'm not going to say anything against some people we know, and I'm not going to say anything for them," said the old tanner, warmly. "All I do say is, that I don't think my son has had justice done him down here." "Oh, don't say that, Master Ross," said Fullerton, importantly. "I'm sure the way in which he took our side over the school appointment was noble. He saw how unjust it was, and he drew back like a man."