"Not a chance! You do a cook's work and an all-work's work and you're a sewing machine thrown in, not to mention washing for three men and a boy, and all the thousand odd jobs from sun-up till you drop in your bed." Mr. Palk could not contain himself. "Gospel!" he said. "Gospel!" "To do their work for 'em is to encourage our neighbours in selfishness and laziness; and Lord knows such vices don't want encouraging in the men," continued Melinda. "What would you do if you was in power?" asked Susan. "What could you do for that matter?" "I'd strike," replied the elder. "I'd strike for a maid-of-all-work first. I'd tell your father I was his daughter. He wants reminding." "He's terrible fond of me, however. He looks to me if he scratches his finger." "And right to do so, seeing he's got no wife. I'm not saying he's not a very fine man indeed, because we all know he is; but I'm saying you ought to help him to be finer still and open his eyes to a fault he could cure if he was minded to. What do you think, Mr. Palk?" But, at a direct question, Thomas subsided. His caution thrust upon his private feelings and kept him quiet. He shook his head. "Least said, soonest mended, ma'am. I wouldn't go for to offer an opinion--though I might have my views. A man's a right to his views, haven't he?" Melinda snorted. "See how they take sides against us!" she said. But this Thomas would not allow. "I won't take no sides, though you're made of sense and--and--well--there 'tis." They parted presently and Susan proceeded homeward with the labourer. They spoke very little, but, apropos of some remark from Mr. Palk, Susan committed herself to the opinion that animals were very backward in their minds. "They be," admitted Thomas. "Their ignorance is something awful. Take a cat, generally counted a clever creature. He's been catching mice since creation, no doubt, and yet don't know to this day what a mouse be called!" With such reflections they beguiled their journey and each was cheered in a subconscious fashion by the companionship of the other. Thomas framed a sentiment and nearly spoke it. He had it on his tongue to hope that Mr. Stockman might be inspired oftener to go away for a week's end; but he felt it unwise to commit himself to such a strong wish and therefore kept it hidden. Soosie-Toosie, for her part, felt some increase of well-being from her religious exercises. "You shan't suffer, you men," she said, as they entered the wicket gate. "Give me fifteen minutes and 'twill all be hotted up." CHAPTER X TALKING WITH DINAH On a public holiday in early spring, Joe Stockman suddenly declared an urgent necessity to communicate with Arthur Chaffe at Lower Town on the subject of some hurdles. "And if you saw your way to take the air in that direction, Maynard, I shall be more than a bit obliged," he said. Susan mildly protested. "'Tis a holiday, father, and Mr. Maynard's bound for pleasuring, be sure," she said.