Mr. Friend had found Daniel to his taste, for a steadfast listener always cheered him and made him amiable. "This be Mr. Daniel Brendon," he said. "He'm working to Ruddyford, and comes up with a message. Give us a drink o' cider." Sarah nodded, cast a swift glance at the labourer, and returned to her house. "Won't come in--I be in such a muck o' dirt," declared Dan; but the other insisted. "Peat ban't dirt," he said. "'Tis sweet, wholesome stuff, an' good anywhere." They sat at a deal table presently, and Gregory's daughter brought two large stone-ware mugs decorated with black trees on a blue ground. She poured out their cider and spoke to the visitor. "How do 'e like it down-along then, mister?" "Very nice, thank you kindly," he answered, looking into her eyes and wondering at the colour of them. "John Prout's a good old chap," she said. "So he is, then. Never met a better." "How his sister can keep all you men in order I don't know, I'm sure." "She's a very patient creature. Here's luck, Mr. Friend." He turned to the peat-master and lifted his mug. Gregory thanked him. "You'm an understanding chap, seemingly; though they'm rare in the rising generation. What's your work to Ruddyford?" Dan's face fell. "To be plain with you, not all I could wish. Master 'pears to think a man of my inches can't be no good in the head. He puts nought but heavy work upon me--not that I mind that, for I can do what it takes two others to do--to say it without boasting, being built so. But I'm an understanding man, as you be good enough to allow, and I'd hoped that he'd have seen it, too, and let me have authority here an' there." "Of course," said Sarah Jane. "If you can do two men's work, you ought to have the ordering of people." "But a big arm be nought nowadays, along o' steam power," he explained. "I haven't a word against Tapson, or Agg, or yet Lethbridge: they'm very good fellows all. But, if I may say so without being thought ill of, they'm simple men, and want a better man to watch 'em. Now such as they would bide here, for instance, and talk the minute-hand round the clock--from no badness in them, but just empty minds." He rose and prepared to go. "Your parts will come to be knowed, if you're skilled in 'em and bide your time," said Mr. Friend; "though if you balance patience against the shortness of life, 'tis often a question whether some among us don't push patience too far. I've been patient too long for one; but that's because I can't be nothing else. I've told 'em the great truth--God knows. But ban't my part to lead. I must obey. Yet, knowing what I know about Amicombe Hill, 'tis hard to wait. Sometimes I think the Promised Land ban't for me at all." "I should hope the Promised Land was for all of us," ventured Daniel. "That Land--yes. I mean yonder hill, bursting with fatness." He waved up the valley in the direction of the peat works. They came to the door and Sarah spoke again.