One Sunday evening, a year after the events just related, Taverner Langford and Hillary Nanspian, senior, were seated in the sun on the Look-out stone, in friendly conversation. Nanspian was looking happier, more hale, and prosperous than he had appeared since his stroke. He wore the badger-skin waistcoat, and his shirtsleeves. The waistcoat had been relined with brilliant crimson stuff; bright was the hue of the lining displayed by the lappets. Taverner Langford had not a cheerful expression; his hair was more grizzled than it was twelve months ago, and his face more livid. There was, however, a gentler light in his eyes. ’It is a great change in Larry,’ said Nanspian. ’Though I say it, there never was a steadier and better son. He is at work from morning to night, and is getting the farm into first-rate order—you’ll allow that?’ ’Yes,’ answered Langford, ’I’ll allow he begins well; I hope it will last. As for first-rate order, that I will not admit. "One year’s seeds, three years’ weeds," as Mrs. Veale——’ He checked himself. ’That were a queer creature,’ observed Nanspian, taking the pipe from his mouth, and blowing a long puff. ’That was the queerest thing of all, her burying herself, when she felt she was dying, in old Wellon’s grave.’ ’It was not his grave. It was a grave of the old ancient Britons.’ ’Well, it don’t matter exactly whose the grave was. Mrs. Veale seemed mighty set on making it her own.’ He continued puffing, looking before him. ’I’m not sure you acted right about her,’ he said after a while. ’I suppose you didn’t really suppose there was any poison in the broth.’ ’I’m a just man,’ said Langford, ’To do as you were to be done by is my maxim. And—it’s Gospel.’ ’But you didn’t think it would kill her?’ ’I don’t know what I thought. I wasn’t sure.’ Another pause. ’Swaddledown ain’t coming to the hammer after all,’ said Nanspian. ’No, I’m glad the Voadens remain on.’ ’Ah! and Sam is a good lad. I reckon before Michaelmas he and Kate will make a pair. They’d have done that afore if it had been settled whether Swaddledown would be sold, and they have to leave.’ ’Kate is too giddy to be any use in a farm.’ ’Oh, wait till she has responsibilities. See how well she has managed since Honor has been here—how she has kept the children, and made her father comfortable.’ ’The children are half their time at Chimsworthy.’ ’Well, well, I like to hear their voices.’ ’And you see more than you like of Luxmore.’ ’Oh, no, I like to see a neighbour. I allow I’m a bit weary of Coombe Park; but bless you, now you and I let him have a trifle, he spends most of his time when not in the van rambling about from one parish to another looking at the registers, and trying to find whether his grandfather were James, or John, or Joseph, or Jonah. It amuses him, and it don’t cost much.’ ’He’ll never establish his claim.’