old them her own thoughts, freely and earnestly,
thoughts that came partly from the readings of Mrs Carbonel and Mr
Harford with her, but far more than she knew from her own study of the
Bible, backed by her earnest spiritual mind, which grew deeper and
deeper as her earthly sufferings increased. Of course she had tried to
do the same with her sister and the other children, but none of them
would endure it. Molly always had something to do elsewhere, and said
what was all very well for a sick woman like Judith could not be
expected in one who had such a lot of trouble that she did not know
which way to look.

Poor thing! Neither Judith nor Mr Harford could persuade her that
there was a way to look which would have lightened all these troubles!
But John had learnt how to stand alone, and he did so, not only by
presenting himself for confirmation, but by becoming a Communicant. Not
another lad did so, but his cousin George and his wife had begun at
last, under the influence of Mr Harford's sermons, and so had a few
more in the parish. John, in his cousin's workshop, was shielded from a
good deal of the evil talk and jesting that went on among his fellows in
the fields. He "took after" George in being grave and quiet, and he
loved no company better than his invalid aunt's; but to be a steady and
religious youth was a more difficult matter in those days than at
present, for harmless outlets for youthful spirits had not been devised,
and to avoid mischief it was almost needful to abstain from almost all
the company and pleasures of a country lad.

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN.

THE THRESHING-MACHINE.

"When lawless mobs insult the court,
That man shall be my toast,
If breaking windows be the sport,
Who bravely breaks the most."
_Cowper_.

Captain Carbonel had made his farming answer better than his friends, or
still more the farmers, had predicted. He had gone to the markets and
talked with the farmers, and not shown off any airs, though, as they
said, he was a gentleman, so known by his honest, straightforward
dealing. Nor had he been tempted to launch out into experiments and
improvements beyond what he could properly afford, though he kept
everything in good order, and used new methods according to the soil of
his farm.

Master Pucklechurch growled at first, and foretold that nothing would
come of "thicken a'"; that the "mangled weazel," as he called the mangel
wurzel, would not grow; and that the cows