All in rapid succession, for the double report so startled the good housewife that she let the great white basin slip through her fingers to be shattered to atoms on the red-brick floor, and spread its golden treasure far and wide. "Joseph!" exclaimed Mrs Portlock. "Say, Luke, I've done it now," he cried. "There's nothing the matter, lass, only a basin broke." "And a dozen eggs destroyed," cried Mrs Portlock, petulantly. "Here, let's go into the parlour, Luke," continued the Churchwarden, after a merry look at Sage, who had run down-stairs, looking quite pale. "Sage, my dear, send Anne in with the bread and cheese, and a mug of ale. Luke Ross here will join me in a bit of lunch." He led the way to the parlour, Luke following him, after pausing a moment to obtain a look from Sage; but she was too conscious to glance his way, and had begun already to help Mrs Portlock, who looked the very picture of vexation and trouble combined. The parlour was a fine old oak-panelled, low-ceiled room, with dark beams reflecting the flaming fire, whose ruddy light danced in the panes of the corner cupboard and glistening sideboard and polished chairs. "Sit down, my boy, sit down," cried the Churchwarden, as he stooped to toss a piece of oak root on the flaming fire. "What with Christmas-keeping, I've hardly seen thee since you came back. My word, how time goes! Only the other day thou wast a slip of a boy helping me to pick the apples in the orchard and playing with Sage, and now thou'rt a grown man." The Churchwarden seated himself, took his tobacco-jar from a bracket, his pipe from the chimney-piece, and proceeded to fill it. "You won't smoke, I know. Good job, too. Bad habit, lad. But what's the matter--anything wrong?" "Only in my own mind, sir," said Luke, rather excitedly, as he sat opposite the farmer, tapping the table. "Out with it, then, Luke, my boy, and I'll help thee if I can. Want some money?" "Oh, no, sir," said Luke, flushing. "The fact is, I have finished my training, and I am now down home expecting to take the management of the school as master." "Ha! yes!" said the Churchwarden softly, leaning forward to light a spill amongst the glowing logs. "There's a bit o' trouble about that. Half-a-dozen of 'em's taking Humphrey Bone's side against parson, and they want me to join." "But you will not, I hope, sir?" said Luke, anxiously. "I should, my lad, but for Master Humphrey's drink. He's not a man to have the care of boys." "No, sir, indeed," said Luke, who paused, while the ruddy servant lass brought in a napkin-covered tray, with the bread and cheese, and a great pewter tankard of home-brewed ale. "Help thyself, lad," said the Churchwarden; "and now what is it?" "I must speak out plainly, sir, or not at all," said Luke, excitedly. "Surely, my lad," said the other, watching him keenly, as he poured out some ale.