"What! You be coming? Then you haven't flourished down country after all, but must climb up here an' begin again. You're mad! An' 'tis a wicked thing to steal the Moor acre by acre as you an' the likes of you be doing now. An' Duchy always ready with its cursed greedy paws stretched out to take your money." "I shall be a Moor-man, too, and enjoy rights of Venville," he said, more to himself than to the woman. "'Tis a wicked thing and flat robbery," she repeated. "All the countryside be raw under it; but for what count the rights of the poor? All the best of the Moor--all the best strolls for grazing, where the grass be greenest--all the lew spots--all stolen away one after t'other an' barred against the lawful commoners; an' not a hand lifted. That hill be where my cows do graze an' roam. Now you'll drive 'em from their proper lairs, an' they'll have to bide on the coarse grass, an' I'll be stinted of milk, as is my poor livelihood." "You'll still have enough to fill the amphora," said Maurice Malherb; then he turned to the boy. "Bring you my horse, lad. The storm is past. I can get on to Tor Royal now." "An' tell Tyrwhitt what I tell you," said Lavey, "that him an' the rest be no better'n a pack of thieves an' cadgers. 'Tis a hanging matter if us steals the goose from the common; but nobody says nought when the upper people steal the common from the goose. There'll come a day of reckoning for Duchy yet--an' Tyrwhitt too!" She stood and watched him mount, with her bent head thrust out of the door, like a gigantic fowl looking out of a pen. Malherb made no answer, but turned to the boy. "There's a crown for you, youngster, and I wish you a better grandmother." He went his way and the old woman twitched her long nose and stared after him. "Born fool--born fool--to waste what he've got left on this here wilderness. An' so awful nigh to my----" She broke off and turned to the boy, John. "What did he give e', Jack? Quick! Out with it!" As a matter of custom the youth gave up his money. "A crown! Just the same great silly gawk he always was. Never knowed anybody with such large notions touching money. But them notions breed thin purses." "A very fine gentleman all the same, granny, an' a rides butiful, an' have a flashing eye, an' a voice as makes you run to do his bidding. He'm awful proud, but I like him." "'Like him!' You ungrateful little toad, you ought to cuss him for speaking so wicked to your grandam." "There was laughter in his eyes more'n once." "Go an' pick snails; go an' pick snails! They'll swarm after the rain. I see the ducks gulching 'em by the quart. My snail-barrel be running low." She watched young John start to obey, then spoke to herself. "'Likes him!' Maybe he does. Blood's thicker'n water." CHAPTER III BESIDE EXE