"Me? Been to hear he? Me, sir--the clerk of the parish? No, sir; I never be-meaned myself by going into one of their chapels, I can assure you," said Jacky, indignantly; and raising his spade, he chopped down a couple of unorthodox weeds growing up within the sacred borders of the vicarage garden. "I'm glad to hear it, Budd," said Mr Selwood, looking at him curiously; "and now I think as you've begun, we'll go on with the gardening." "To be sure, sir--to be sure," said Jacky, looking round and sighing at the broad expanse of work; "but if I might be so bold, sir, I should say, Don't you have nowt to do wi' that chap Slee. He's a regular Shimei, sir--a man as curses and heaves stones at our holy Church, sir-- a man as comes in the night, and sows tares and weeds amongst our wheat." "Exactly, Budd," said the vicar, looking him full in the face; "but now suppose we sink the metaphorical and take to the literal. There are tares and weeds enough here: so suppose you root them out of the garden." "Yes, sir, of course, sir; I was just going to," said Jacky. "It's a lovely garden when it's in good order. I suppose you wouldn't like me to get Thad Warmouth and one of the Searbys to come and help me-- labouring chaps, sir, and very strong?" "No, Budd, I really should not," said the vicar; "and besides, it would be depriving you of a good deal of work. What three men would do in two days will last one man six." "Exactly, sir--thanky, sir; it's very thowtful of you," said Jacky, sighing, and looking as if he would be willing to be deprived of a good deal of work; and then he began to chop at the ground very softly, as if, knowing that it was his mother earth, he was unwilling to hurt it. "I'm fond of gardening myself, Budd; it's good, healthy work, and I dare say I shall help you a great deal. Excuse me; lend me that spade a moment. I think it would be as well to drive it right in like this--it will save further trouble; this wild convolvulus takes such a strong hold of the soil." He took the tool and dug for a few minutes lustily, stooping down after each newly-turned spadeful to pick up and remove the long, white trailing roots that matted it together, horrifying Jacky, who took off his hat and wiped his dewy forehead, for it made him perspire freely to see such reckless use of muscular power. "Thanky, sir; yes, I see," said Jacky, taking the spade again with a sigh, and fervently wishing that he had not undertaken the job. "Hallo! here's the Missus." He paused, and rested his foot on the spade, as just then Mrs Glaire, driving a little four-wheel chaise, drawn by an extremely chubby pony, like a heavy cart-horse cut down, drew up by the vicarage gate.