“We shall see,” he replied soothingly. “It’s early days yet to talk about ‘all’. That’s what I want to say to Baldwin.” He turned his head in the direction of the fireplace again. “We’ve got to keep up wer hearts and wer heads, and see ’at we make t’ best of a bad job. There’ll be summat left to share out, surely.” Another volley of coarse abuse from Baldwin was the only reply he received. Nancy was reading the report,—steadily—but with mouth firmly closed; and Keturah had covered her head and was rocking her chair, consoling herself with groans. Maniwel went over to the hearth where Baldwin’s feet were on the ruins of his pipe. “What a man says in his temper is easy forgi’en, Baldwin,” he said. His eyes were almost woman-like in their tenderness, but the firmness in the voice was that of a man and a strong man. “It’s bound to be a sad blow for tha, but t’ ship isn’t allus wrecked when it strikes a rock, and if there’s owt I can do to help tha tha’s nobbut to speak t’ word and we’ll put wer heads together——” “If tha’ll be good enough to take thy-sen off, Maniwel Drake, tha’ll be doing me t’ only service I ask of tha,” said Baldwin, his voice trembling with the passion he was endeavouring to restrain. “Tha’s had what tha come for—t’ pleasure o’ seeing me knocked off o’ my feet wi’ t’ news tha brought; tha can get thee gone now and tell t’ funny tale to Jagger. Put wer heads together, will we? Let me tell tha Baldwin Briggs’s none done yet; and there’s a lad’ll put his head alongside mine ’at’s worth all t’ Drake fam’ly rolled into one. He seed this coming; and if I’d ta’en a bit o’ notice tha’d happen ha’ had less ’casion to make game o’ me.” “You’re out of your mind——” began Nancy hotly; and it was not the anger that flashed into Baldwin’s eyes that stopped her; but the hand Maniwel laid on her arm. “The lass is right,” he said sternly; “—tha’rt out o’ thy mind, or tha’d shame to say such things to a man’s ’at’s wanted to be thi friend. But it’s out o’ t’ abundance o’ t’ heart ’at t’ mouth speaks, and thi heart’s so full o’ muck ’at no clean thought can get either in or out. When a man walks crook’d he sees crook’d; and there’ll come a time when tha’ll know what it is to lack a friend. If Nancy’s husband can help tha, well and good; I’m glad on’t. If tha’s laid up treasure i’ any man’s heart it’s more than tha’s ever done afore sin’ I knew tha—nay, tha’s no ’casion to grind thi teeth; lame as I am I could throw tha on t’ fire-back wi’ my one hand, but there’s better fuel i’ t’ bucket. I’m going now; but I’ve one thing more to say t’ first. Tha’rt as miserable a soul as ever drew breath, and if tha loses thi brass tha can’ scarce be more miserable. Tha’s made it harder for me to offer tha help another time; but what I call tha I call tha to thi face and not behind thi back, and if tha finds ’at t’ stick tha’s trusting to fails tha, remember tha’s still a friend i’ Maniwel Drake—tha hears me?”