’I say it’s regular un-decent his being out to-night hunting the hare before his own uncle’s door.’ ’I say so, too. It weren’t my place to say naught, but I thought it, and so did every proper chap.’ ’It is an ill bird that fouls its own nest.’ ’Does his father know what’s he’s been after?’ ’No, of course not; old Nanspian would ha’ taken a stick to his back, if he’d heard he was in for such things.’ ’I know that however bad an uncle might use me, I’d never have nothing to do with a hare hunt that concerned him—no, nor an aunt neither.’ ’Larry was always a sort of a giddy chap.’ ’He’s a bit o’ a fool, or he wouldn’t have come into this.’ ’Maybe this will shake what little sense he has out of his head.’ ’I’ll tell y’ what. If Larry had been in the army—he’d have turned out as great a blackguard as Charles Luxmore.’ ’The girls have spoiled Larry, they make so much of him.’ ’Make much of him! They like to make sport of him, but there’s not one of them cares a farthing for him, not if they’ve any sense. They know fast enough what Chimsworthy and idleness are coming too. Why, there was Kate Luxmore. Everyone thought she and Larry were keeping company and would make a pair; but this evening, you saw, directly she had a chance of Sam, she shook him off, and quite right too.’ ’Never mind me and Kate,’ said Sam, turning his head again. ’But us do mind, and us think as Kate be a sensible maiden, and us thought her a fool before to take up wi’ Larry Nanspian.’ This conversation was not pleasant for the young man laid on the gate to hear, and it took from him the desire to speak and allow his bearers to know he was awake, and had heard their criticism on his character and conduct. The judgment passed on him was not altogether just, but there was sufficient justice in it to humble him. Yes, he had acted most improperly in allowing himself to be drawn into taking part in the hare hunt. No—he was not, he could never have become such a blackguard as Charles Luxmore. ’Halt!’ commanded Piper, and the convoy stood still. ’We can’t go like this to Chimsworthy,’ said the little cattle-jobber; ’it’ll give the old man another stroke. Let us stop at the Luxmores’ cottage, and wash our faces, and put off these things, and send on word that we’re coming; the old fellow mustn’t be dropt down on wi’ bad news too sudden.’ ’Right! Honor shall be sent on to break the news.’ Honor! Larry felt the blood mount to his brow. She had herself dissuaded him from having anything to do with this wretched affair which had ended so disastrously to himself, and when Kate advised him to keep away from it because Honor disapproved, he had sent her an insolent defiance. Now he was to be laid before her door, bruised and broken, because he had disobeyed her warning. He tried to lift himself to protest—but sank back. No—he thought—it serves me right.