"And Napoleon and Wellington have given him a razor," said Richard; "so now he’s all right." "Yes," continued Samson, "and Nap was showing us how a razor cuts hairs in half, and he missed the hair and showed us how a razor cuts thumbs." "My word--bled like a pig, he did," concluded Richard. "I’m sure I never won’t use such a thing when I grow to be hairy. Much too ’feared of ’em." "You mind when I’m married to David that you often come over and see me, Dicky; and you too, Sam," said Margaret. "If one comes, t’other will come," said Samson. "Us hunt in couples, faither says--like to foxes," declared Richard. "And we’ll often come to tea." "And oftener still if there’s jam--not beastly blackberry jam, mind you, but proper boughten jam from a grocer’s." "I’ll remember," promised Madge. They reached the Warren House after some further bargaining on the part of Samson and promising from Margaret. Then the twins returned to their boats and she entered her lover’s home. David was at work, as the girl knew, but her business lay with Mrs. Bowden, and it happened that Elias himself was also within to welcome her. Both kissed Margaret and both declared their good pleasure at sight of her. She had already become a great happiness to them, and Elias did not hesitate openly to declare that his firstborn was luckier than even he deserved to be. "’Tis about the Crockers I’m here," said Madge. "Mother, and father too, be wishful for them to be axed; but of course nothing in the world would be done by mother that could hurt your feelings.--Too tender herself for that. So I was to find out if you were for it or against it; and I was to learn if there was any other folk as you’d like specially invited that we mightn’t hap to know." "There’s four or five must be there," said Mrs. Bowden. "God knows I don’t want ’em; but even at a wedding it ban’t all joy, and people often have to be axed for the sake of the unborn, though not for their own sakes by any means." "I met with the ’Dumpling’ up over a bit ago," said Mr. Bowden. "Going shooting he was--might have been going to shoot hisself from the look of him; for a mournfuller man never throwed a shadow. But we had a tell, and I hear as Bartholomew Stanbury means to give a handsome party." Margaret smiled. "So he does then. ’Tis wonnerful how father’s coming out. Of course the farm’s too small and too far off from the neighbours; but Mr. Moses has very kindly given us the loan of his shop nigh the church--the big room."