"My good fellow," said the Rev Eli, "you have been most leniently dealt with. I am sorry for you on account of your brother, a most respectable man, who has always set you an admirable example, and--" "I say," exclaimed Jock, "this arn't chutch, is it?" There was a titter here, but the chairman continued:-- "I will say no more, as you seem in so hardened a frame of mind, only that if you are violent you may be committed for trial." "All right," said the great fellow, between his gritting teeth; "I don't say no more, only--all right: come along, matey; we can do the three months easy." There was a bit of a bustle, and the prisoners were taken off. The rest of the cases were despatched. The carriage called for the chairman, and on the way back it passed the police cart, with the sergeant giving the two poaching prisoners a ride, but each man had his ankle chained to a big ring in the bottom of the vehicle, where they sat face to face, and the sergeant and his man were driving the blackberry pickers to the county gaol. "What a dreadful-looking man!" said Julia, as in passing Jock Morrison ironically touched his soft felt hat. "Yes, my dear--poachers," said the Rev Eli calmly, as one who felt that he had done his duty to society, and never for a moment dreaming that he had been stirring Fate to play him another bitter turn. PART ONE, CHAPTER SEVEN. POLLY'S SURPRISE. There was a dark shadow over Polly Morrison's mind, and she started and shivered at every step when her husband was away at work, but only to brighten up when the great sturdy fellow came in, smelling of wood, and ready to crush her in his arms with one of his bear-like hugs. Polly had been furtively gazing from the window several times on the afternoon of that market-day, and turned hot and cold as she had heard steps which might be those of some one coming there; but the cloud passed away in the sunshine of Tom Morrison's happy smile, now that he had come in, and she felt, as she expressed it, "oh! so safe." "There, let me go, do, Tom," she cried, merrily. "Oh, what a great strong, rough fellow you are!" "No, no; stop a minute," he said here. "I oughtn't to be smiling, for I've just heard something, Polly." "Heard something, Tom!" she faltered, and she turned white with dread, and shrank away. "Here, I say," he cried, "you must get up your strength, lass. Why, what a shivering little thing thou art!" "You--you frightened me, Tom," she gasped. "Frightened you? There, there, it's nothing to frighten thee. I have just heard about Jock." "Oh! about Jock," cried Polly, drawing a breath full of relief. "I hope he has got off." "Well, no, my lass, he hasn't, and I'm sorry and I'm not sorry, if thou canst understand that. I'm sorry Jock is to be punished, and I'm not sorry if it will do him good. Arn't you ashamed of having a husband with such a bad brother?" "Ashamed! Oh, Tom!" she cried, throwing her arms about his neck.