’That would be pulling on boots to hide the stocking full of holes,’ sneered Taverner. Hillary coloured, and his eyes twinkled. ’There is no picking feathers off a toad, or clothes off a naked man,’ he muttered; ’and if you squeeze a crab-apple you get only sourness. If I were not your brother-in-law I shouldn’t put up with your words. But you can’t help it. Sloes and blackberries grow in the same hedge, and their natures are as they began. Older they grow, they grow either sweeter or sourer.’ ’Ah!’ retorted Taverner, ’out of the acre some grow wheat and others nettles.’ ’It is all very well your talking,’ said Hillary, putting his thumbs in his waistcoat arm-holes, and expanding. ’You, no doubt, have made money, one way or other. I have not; but then, I am not a screw. I am a free-handed, open man. God forbid that I should be a screw!’ ’A screw holds together and a wedge drives apart,’ said Taverner. ’I don’t know,’ said Hillary, looking across lovingly at the Swaddledown fields, ’but I may be able to find the money. My credit is not so low that I need look far. If you will not help me others will.’ ’How can you raise it? on a mortgage? You cannot without young Hillary’s consent, and he is not of age.’ ’Luck will come my way some time,’ said Nanspian. ’Luck is not nailed to one point of the compass, brother Langford. Don’t you flatter yourself that it always goes to you. Luck veers as the wind.’ ’That is true, but as the wind here sets three days out of four from the west, so does luck set most time towards the thrifty man.’ ’Sooner or later it will turn to me.’ ’I know what you mean. I’ve heard tell of what you have said to the farmers when warmed with liquor. The wind don’t blow over a thistlehead without carrying away some of its down and dropping it where least wanted. I’ve heard your boasts, they are idle—idle as thistledown. Do you think you’ll ever succeed to Langford? I’ll live to see your burying.’ ’My burying won’t help you to Chimsworthy,’ retorted Hillary. ’My Larry stands in your way. Heigh! I said it! The luck is coming my way already!’ he exclaimed eagerly. He put down his foot, placed both palms on the slab of granite, and leaned over it. ’Not a moment before it is needed,’ said Taverner. ’You’ve had some bad falls, and they’d have been breakdown tumbles but for my help. I suppose you must let Swaddledown go; it’s a pity too, lying handy as the button at the flap of your pocket.’ ’She is coming my way as fast as she can!’ ’What, Swaddledown?’ ’No! Luck! Look! running right into my hands. The money-spinner!’ ’The money-spinner!’ Taverner started to his feet. ’Where? Whither is she running?’ ’Stand out of the sunlight, will you!’ exclaimed Hillary. ’How can I see and secure her with your shadow cast across the stone?’ ’Where is she?’ ’I tell you she is making direct for me. I knew the luck would come if I waited. Curse you! Get on one side, will you?’