"It would be very useful about this harness," said Mr. Linden,--"will you try and get rid of the knots?"--and he handed Faith the cord, with a smile which said she must make that do instead of the lynch-pin. Which Faith did not particularly like, for she had a strong hankering for the ride back to the bushes. She dropped the bridle upon her horse's neck, and began to exercise her patience and skill upon the knots. "I wish I had a knife!" she said as she did so, "and I'd shew you that I am not afraid." And a little colour rose in her face, which rather grew. "_That's_ easy," said Squire Deacon, looking suddenly up and extending his hand. "Here's one as'll cut through most things." Mr. Linden's head was bent over the harness,--neither eye nor hand stirred from his work. "Thank you, Mr. Deacon," said Faith, feeling the blood rise to her brow,--"but I won't go for it now.--I'll do this first." In her confusion Faith did not see another person that joined the group, till he was standing at her horse's side. "What sort of a bee are you gettin' up here on the high-way?" said Mr. Simlins in his good-humoured growl (and he had a variety.) "What _air_ you doin' on horse-back?" "There's harness to be mended here, Mr. Simlins--and I'm making rope for it." "You go 'long!" said he. "Who are you makin' rope for? Give that to me?" But Faith held fast. "No, Mr. Simlins, you can't have it--I am bound to get out these knots. There is work doing round here, that perhaps you can help." Mr. Simlins stooped under her horse's head and went round to the other side, and then for the first time he got a full view. "That's the way you perform actions!" he said; seeming too profoundly struck to be at all wordy. "'Say and Seal' I guess you be! What's the matter with you, Squire?" "If anything is, I haint heard of it," said Mr. Deacon, with the knife lying heavy against his ribs. "Mr. Linden's turned harness-maker--that's the last news." "O are you there, Mr. Simlins?" said the new mechanic, looking up from his work. "Can't be more unlikely than you," said the farmer, beginning on his part to finger the broken harness. "How _you_ come to be here passes all my imagery. That'll do smartly. Where did you learn all trades? I don't see, Squire Deacon, but he's as good at mendin' as you be at marrin'. What do _you_ think?" "I don't see as one man has much to do with another," said Mr. Deacon lucidly. "Yes, that will do," said Mr. Linden. "Now Miss Faith--give me that cord if you please, and you shall go after the lynch-pin." "No," she said pleasantly,--"it'll be done in a minute--I want to finish it." "When did you get back from York, Squire?" said Mr. Simlins--"and what took you away? I haint heerd yet. I never believed you were gone _for good_--though folks said it." "'Taint generally worth while to believe what folks says," replied the Squire. "I've been back three weeks, I guess. Shouldn't wonder if I went again though."