"Yes; big brown bird, some'at like a hern," said old Bultitude. "They lives in wet, swampy places. Well, parson, that place was all one swamp when I went, and I says to mysen, where rushes is a growing now, I mean to grow wheat; and so every year I used to do nowt but spend i' dreaning, and now there isn't a finer farm i' the county." "It's perfect," said the vicar, "perfect." "Well, I'm glad to hear thee say it, parson, because I know thee sayst what thee means, and thou'rt as good a judge of a crop and stack as iver I see, for a man as isn't a farmer. It isn't ivery man as comes fro' the wild parts 'bout London as can tell as a hog or a hogget isn't a pig, but a ship, and knows what he's worth to a shilling or two. But just hearken to me, going on like that, when I wanted to say a word or two 'bout our John Maine." "Indeed!" "Yes, parson. I'm mortal feard that lad's going wrong. He's got some 'at on his mind, and he's always in confab wi' young Podmore as was Daisy Banks' sweetheart, and there's some mystery about it. Young Brough says he's mixed up wi' a blackguard low lot, poaching or some'at o' that sort; but I don't tak' much notice o' he, for he's a bit jealous of him. But what I want you to do is to get hold of John and talk to him, for he's upsetting our Jess, and I shall hev to get shoot of him if things don't alter, and I doan't want to do that, parson, for I rayther like the lad, if he'd go back to what he weer. Good day; you'll see him, will you?" "Indeed I will." "And young Podmore, too, parson?" "Yes, if it's necessary." "Oh, it is; and you'll put 'em raight, I know. But I say, parson--but that was a hot one for Dicky Glaire. Good-bye." They parted at the gate, and the vicar went in, just as Sim Slee went by with a man dressed in black--a heavy, white-faced man, with a good deal of black whiskers, who looked as if his clothes did not fit him, and as if he was uncomfortable out of a workman's suit, and could not find a place for his hands, with which, by the aid of a great cotton handkerchief, he kept wiping his face. "I shouldn't wonder if that's the deputation," said the vicar. "Well, I hope they'll settle the dispute." Unfortunately, though the vicar's guess was right, the deputation was not a man to further the prospects of peace. END OF VOLUME TWO. Volume 3, Chapter I. RICHARD BEGINS TO WOO. The vicar's visits to the Big House became fewer, for he could not but see that Richard Glaire, in spite of all that had passed, was more and more embittered against him. He was very quiet, and ceased to be insulting, but there was a malicious look in his eye, an ill-concealed air of jealousy in his glance, whenever the vicar spoke to Eve, that told of his feelings. In fact, Richard vowed that the lesson was chosen because he went to church that day, and if ever opportunity served he would be revenged.