"Ah, you females! It's always the outside of a man as interests you. For my part it was what their papers and characters were like that I had to think about; and even so I've took one largely on trust." "You're such a trustful creature, Joe." "I like to trust. I like to do unto others as they should do unto me. But it's a disappointing rule of life. To be above the staple of your fellow creatures is to get a lot of shocks, Melinda; but you can only set a good example; you can't make people follow it. One man I have seen, t'other I have not. Thomas Palk, the horseman--so to call him--is in sight of middle-age and a towser for work. He's leaving Haccombe, down Newton Abbot way, because his master's son is taking up his job. A very good man by all accounts, and he understands the position and knows what lies before him. A faithful-looking man and I hope he'll prove so. Plain as a bit of moor-stone--in fact a mighty ugly man; but an honest face if I know anything." "Sounds all right." "T'other I haven't seen. He comes from up country and answered my advertisement. Can't give no character direct, because his master's died sudden. But he's been along with him for nearly five years, and it was a bigger place than this, and he writes a very good letter. In fact an educated man seemingly, and nobody's the worse for that if it don't come between them and work. Though I grant it be doing so." "So father says." "Lawrence Maynard he's called. I've engaged him and hope for the best. Both free men--no encumbrances. I hope, with my gift of making the darkness light where farming is concerned, they'll soon be pulling their weight and getting things all ship-shape." "Father says nobody knows better than you what work means; but somebody else has always got to do it." "A wonderful man your father; yet I'm very much afraid he'll go to hell when the end comes, Melinda." "He's not." A ginger-coloured lurcher appeared. It was a gaunt and hideous dog with a white muzzle. Behind it came a black spaniel and a white, wire-haired fox-terrier. "Us must get to work," said Mr. Stockman. "Soosie-Toosie wants a brace of rabbits for supper to-night and I'd best to fight for 'em afore the rain comes. It have been offering since morning and will be on us afore nightfall." The dogs, apparently understanding, sat round with their eye on Joseph. "If your godless parent was to see these poor creatures to work, I can tell you what he'd say, Melinda. He'd say thicky spaniel was like me--knows her job very well indeed and prefers to see the younger dogs doing it. And why not?" "No use growing old if you don't grow artful," admitted Melinda. "Of course it ban't--here's the girl. What's the matter now, Soosie? The rabbits? I be just going after 'em."