"Why, you seemed to fall rather heavily," said I. At this Job regarded me with a look half resentful, half reproachful, and immediately turned his back upon me; from which, and sundry winks and nods and shakes of the head from the others, it seemed that my remark had been ill-judged. And after we had sat silent for maybe another five minutes, the Ancient appeared to notice Job's presence for the first time. "Why, you bean't workin' 's arternoon then, Job?" he inquired solemnly. "Noa!" "Goin' to tak' a 'olleyday, p'r'aps?" "Ah! I'm done wi' smithin'—leastways, for Black Jarge." "And him wi' all that raft o' work in, Job? Pretty fix 'e'll be in wi' no one to strike for 'im!" said Simon. "Sarves un right tu!" retorted Job, furtively rubbing his left knee. "But what'll 'e do wi'out a 'elper?" persisted Simon. "Lord knows!" returned the Ancient; "unless Job thinks better of it." "Not me," said that individual, feeling his right elbow with tender solicitude. "I'm done wi' Black Jarge, I am. 'E nigh broke my back for me once afore, but this is the last time; I never swing a sledge for Black Jarge again—danged if I du!" "And 'im to mend th' owd church screen up to Cranbrook Church," sighed the Ancient; "a wunnerful screen, a wunnerful screen! older nor me—ah! a sight older—hunneds and hunneds o' years older—they wouldn't let nobody touch it but Black Jarge." "'E be the best smith in the South Country!" nodded Simon. "Ay, an' a bad man to work for as ever was!" growled Job. "I'll work for 'e no more; my mind's made up, an' when my mind's made up theer bean't no movin' me—like a rock I be!" "'Twould ha' been a fine thing for a Siss'n'urst man to ha' mended t' owd screen!" said the Ancient. "'Twould that!" nodded Simon, "a shame it is as it should go to others." Hereupon, having finished my ale, I rose. "Be you'm a-goin', young maister?" inquired the Ancient. "Why, that depends," said I. "I understand that this man, Black George, needs a helper, so I have decided to go and offer my services." "You!" exclaimed Job, staring in open-mouthed amazement, as did also the other two. "Why not?" I rejoined. "Black George needs a helper, and I need money." "My chap," said Job warningly, "don't ye do it. You be a tidy, sizable chap, but Black Jarge ud mak' no more o' you than I should of a babby—don't ye do it." "Better not," said Simon. "On the contrary," I returned, "better run a little bodily risk and satisfy one's hunger, rather than lie safe but famishing beneath some hedge or rick—what do you think, Ancient?" The old man leaned forward and peered up at me sharply beneath his hanging brows. "Well?" said I. "You'm right!" he nodded, "and a man wi' eyes the like o' yourn bean't one as 'tis easy to turn aside, even though it do be Black Jarge as tries." "Then," said Job, as I took up my staff, "if your back's broke, my chap—why, don't go for to blame me, that's all! You be a sight too cocksure—ah, that you be!"