As they came abreast of the vicarage they saw the vicar at work gardening, and Jacky Budd making believe to dig very hard in the wilderness still unreclaimed. Even at their distance, Jacky's pasty face and red ripe nose, suggestive of inward tillage, were plainly to be seen, and just then a thought seemed to strike Tom, who turned to his companion, staring with open mouth over the hedge. "Like a job, Harry?" "Hey, lad, I should." "Come in here then," said Tom, laying his hand on the gate. "That I will, lad," said Harry. "I want to scrarp some un, and I should 'mazin like a fall wi' that theer parson." Tom smiled grimly, and entered, followed by Harry. They were seen directly by the vicar, who came up and shook hands with Tom. "Ah, Podmore, glad to see you. Well, Harry, my man," he continued, holding out his hand to the other, "is the lump on your forehead gone?" Harry took the vicar's hand and held it in a mighty grip, while with his left he removed his cap and looked in the lining, as if to see if the bruise was there. "Never thowt no more 'bout it, parson." Then gazing down at the soft hand he held, he muttered, "It's amaazin'!" "What's amazing?" said the vicar, smiling. "Why that you could hit a man such a crack wi' a hand like this 'ere." "Don't mind him, sir; it's his way," said Tom, apologetically. "Fact is, parson, we're tired o' doing nowt." "I'm glad to hear you say so, Podmore," said the vicar, earnestly. "I wish from my heart this unhappy strife were at an end. I'm trying my best." "Of course you are, sir," said Tom; "but I thowt mebbe you'd give Harry here and me a bit o' work." "Work! what work?" said the vicar, wonderingly. "Well, you said I'd best get to work, and I've got nowt to do. That Jacky Budd there's picking about as if he was scarred o' hurting the ground: let me and Harry dig it up." The vicar looked from one to the other for a moment, and as his eyes rested on Harry, that giant gave Tom a clap on the shoulder hard enough to make a bruise, as he exclaimed-- "Hark at that now, for a good'n, parson. Here, gie's hold of a shovel." The vicar led the way to the tool-house, furnished his visitors with tools, and then stood close at hand to supply the science, while the way in which the two men began to dig had such an effect on Jacky Budd that he stood still and perspired. A dozen great shovelfuls of earth were turned over by Harry, who then stopped short, threw off his coat and vest, tightened the belt round his waist, and loosening the collar of his shirt, proceeded to roll up the sleeves before moistening his hands and seizing the spade once more, laughing heartily as he turned over the soft earth like a steam plough. "Slip int' it, Tommy. Well, this is a game. It's straange and fine though, after doin' nowt for a week." Tom was digging steadily and well, for he was a bit of a gardener in his way, having often helped Joe Banks to dig his piece in the early days of his love.