Regardless of the presence and observations of Langford, Honor mended Pattie’s pinafore. She was accustomed to do at once what she observed must be done. She never put off what had to be done to a future time. Perhaps this was one of the secrets of her getting through so much work. When each child had thus reported itself to Honor, she dismissed it with a kiss, and sent it to salute the father. ’You will find, each of you, a piece of bread-and-butter and a mug of milk in the back kitchen,’ she said. Then the children filed out of the room to where their simple meal was laid out for them. ’Busy, systematic, thrifty,’ said Taverner Langford, looking approvingly at Honor. ’The three feet that stay Honour.’ Whether he made this remark in reference to her name the girl could not make out; she looked up suddenly at him, but his face was inscrutable, as he stood with his back to the light in the window, with his broad-brimmed hat drawn over his eyes. Her father was ready to depart with Langford. As the latter turned to go, he nodded to the girl in an approving and friendly way, and then turning to her father, as he prepared to descend the steps, said, ’What a maid that eldest daughter of yours is! Everything in your house is clean, everything in place, even the children. The sphere is not big enough for her, she has talents for managing a farm.’ ’Ah!’ groaned Luxmore, ’if we had our rights, and Coombe Park came to us——’ The sisters heard no more. Their father had reached the foot of the steps. When both he and Langford had disappeared, Kate burst out laughing. ’O Honor!’ she said, ’that screw, Mr. Langford! how his voice creaked. I thought all the time he was speaking of a screw driven into father, creak, creak, creak!’ ’For shame, Kate! Mr. Taverner Langford has done us a great kindness. He must not be ridiculed.’ ’I do not believe in his kindness,’ answered the lively Kate. ’The grey has got the glanders, or is spavined, that is why he wants to lend her. Unless father is very keen, Mr. Langford will overreach him.’ Then she threw aside the basket she had been weaving. ’There, Honor, that is done, and my fingers are sore. I will do no more. No—not even to buy the grey with my earnings. I am sure that grey is coming to bring us ill-luck. I turned my thumb in all the time that Mr. Langford was here, I thought he had the evil eye, and—Honor—his wicked eye was on you.’ *CHAPTER VI.* *THE PROGRESS OF STRIFE.* So it fell out that two worthy men, land-owners, brothers-in-law, in the parish of Bratton Clovelly, each a churchwarden, each a pillar of religion, Jakim and Booz, one of the Temple, the other of the Tabernacle, were at variance. About what? About nothing, a little red spider, so minute that many a man could not see it without his spectacles.