’No, thank you,’ answered Langford, ’I can talk very comfortably standing where I am. I know you to be a sensible man, Luxmore, and to have your eyes about you, and your ears open. There is no man goes about the country so much as you. They say that in a town the barber knows all the news, and in the country the carrier. Now I’ll tell you what I want, Luxmore, and perhaps you’ll do me the favour to help me to what I want. I’m short of hands, and I want a trusty fellow who can act as cattle-driver for me. I won’t have a boy. Boys over-drive and hurt the cattle. I must have a man. Do you know of one who will suit?’ Oliver shook his head. ’I don’t know that I do, and I don’t know that I don’t.’ ’You are talking riddles, Luxmore. What do you mean?’ ’Well, sir,’ answered the carrier with a sigh, ’my meaning is this. Poor Diamond is dead, and I am thinking of giving up the carrying trade.’ ’Giving up the "Vivid"! You are not in your senses, man.’ ’Ah, sir, how am I to buy a new horse? The price is up and money is scarce—leastways with me. Horses ain’t to be bought on promises no more than they are to be reared on wind.’ ’Want a horse, do you? Of course the "Vivid" won’t go by herself except down hill, and that is what every one and every thing can do unassisted. It is the getting up hill that costs a strain. Ah, Luxmore, I could show you two men, one going up and the other down, going down as fast as the laden van on Rexhill, without a horse to back against it. You’ve only to look to Chimsworthy to see that. I need not say in which direction to turn your eyes to see the contrary.’ He pushed up his hat and looked at the carrier, then at Honor. He did not deign to cast a passing glance at Kate. ’Then, sir,’ said Oliver, ’if the worst came to the worst—I mean, sir, begging your pardon, and no offence intended, if I could not get another horse, and where it is to come from the Lord Almighty only knows—I’d have to work for my living some other way, and I might be glad to take service with you. I was even thinking on going to the roads that be making, but Honor won’t hear of that, so I reckon it can’t be.’ ’No,’ answered Taverner, with his eyes resting on Honor, ’no, she is quite right. Your proper place is at home with the family. The men on the roads are a wild lot.’ ’So she said,’ the carrier put in humbly, ’and of course Honor knows.’ ’Now look you here, Luxmore,’ said Taverner, ’I’m not a man to squander and give away, as every one in Bratton knows, but I’m not as hard as they are pleased to say, and where a worthy man is in need, and no great risk is seen by myself, and I’m not out of pocket, I don’t mind helping him. I do not say but what I’ll let you have my grey for keep. She’s not an infant. There’s not much gambol about her, but there is a deal of work. You shall have her for awhile; and pay me ten shillings a week, as hire. That is a favourable offer, is it not?’