'Perhaps, Martha,' said Mrs. Marston wistfully, 'when she's been here a long while, and we're used to her, and she's part of the house--perhaps it'll be as nice and pleasant as before?' 'When the yeast's in,' said Martha pessimistically, 'the dough's leavened!' * * * * * As Edward and Hazel drew near the show-ground they passed people walking and were overtaken by traps. A man passed at full gallop, and Hazel was reminded of Reddin. Later, she said: 'How'd you like it, Ed'ard, if somebody was after you, like a weasel after a rabbit or a terrier at a fox-earth? What'd you do?' 'What morbid things you think of, dear!' 'What'd you do?' 'I don't know.' 'There's nought to do.' Edward remembered his creed. 'I should pray, Hazel.' 'What good'd that do?' 'God answers prayers.' 'That He dunna! Or where'd the fox-hunting gents be, and who'd have rabbit-pie? I dunna see as He _can_ answer 'em.' 'Little girls mustn't bother their pretty heads.' 'If you'd found as many creatures in traps as me, and loosened 'em, and seed their broken legs, and eyes as if they'd seed ghosses, and onst a dog caught by the tongue--eh! you'd bother! You would that! And feyther killing the pigs Good Fridays.' 'Why Good Fridays, of all days?' 'That was the day. Ah! every Good Friday I was used to fight feyther!' 'My dear child!' 'You would if you'd seed the pig that comforble and contented, and know'd what it'd look like in a minute. I'd a killed feyther if I could.' 'But why? Surely it was worse of you to want to kill your father than of him to want to kill the pig?' 'I dunno. But I couldn't abear it. I bit him awful one time, and he hit me on the head with a rake, and I went to sleep.' Edward's forehead was damp with sweat. 'Merciful God!' he thought, 'that such things should be!' 'And when I've heard things screaming and crying to be loosed, and them in traps, and never a one coming to 'em but me, it's come o'er me to won'er who'd loose _me_ out if I was in a trap.' 'God would.' 'I dunna think so. He ne'er lets the others out.' Edward was silent. The radiant day had gone dark, and he groped in it. 'What for dunnot He, my soul? What for dun He give 'em mouths so's they can holla, and not listen at 'em? I listen when Foxy shouts out.' At this moment Edward saw Abel approaching, swaggering along with the harp. He had never been glad to see him so far; now he was almost affectionate. 'Laws, Ed'ard!' said Abel, straining the affection to breaking-point, 'you'm having a randy, and no mistake! Dancing and all, I s'pose?' 'No. I shall go before the dancing.' 'You won't get our 'Azel to go along of you, then. Dance her will, like a leaf in the fall.' 'You'd rather come home with me on your wedding-eve, Hazel, wouldn't you?' Abel, seeing Hazel's dismayed face, laughed loudly. Edward hated him as only sensitive temperaments can, and was conscience-stricken when he realized the fact.