being present Fairway himself, Grandfer Cantle,
Humphrey, Christian, and one or two turf-cutters. It was a warm day,
and the men were as a matter of course in their shirtsleeves, except
Christian, who had always a nervous fear of parting with a scrap of
his clothing when in anybody's house but his own. Across the stout oak
table in the middle of the room was thrown a mass of striped linen,
which Grandfer Cantle held down on one side, and Humphrey on the
other, while Fairway rubbed its surface with a yellow lump, his face
being damp and creased with the effort of the labour.

"Waxing a bed-tick, souls?" said the newcomer.

"Yes, Sam," said Grandfer Cantle, as a man too busy to waste words.
"Shall I stretch this corner a shade tighter, Timothy?"

Fairway replied, and the waxing went on with unabated vigour. "'Tis
going to be a good bed, by the look o't," continued Sam, after an
interval of silence. "Who may it be for?"

"'Tis a present for the new folks that's going to set up
housekeeping," said Christian, who stood helpless and overcome by the
majesty of the proceedings.

"Ah, to be sure; and a valuable one, 'a b'lieve."

"Beds be dear to fokes that don't keep geese, bain't they, Mister
Fairway?" said Christian, as to an omniscient being.

"Yes," said the furze-dealer, standing up, giving his forehead a
thorough mopping, and handing the beeswax to Humphrey, who succeeded
at the rubbing forthwith. "Not that this couple be in want of one, but
'twas well to show 'em a bit of friendliness at this great racketing
vagary of their lives. I set up both my own daughters in one when
they was married, and there have been feathers enough for another in
the house the last twelve months. Now then, neighbours, I think we
have laid on enough wax. Grandfer Cantle, you turn the tick the right
way outwards, and then I'll begin to shake in the feathers."

When the bed was in proper trim Fairway and Christian brought forward
vast paper bags, stuffed to the full, but light as balloons, and began
to turn the contents of each into the receptacle just prepared. As
bag after bag was emptied, airy tufts of down and feathers floated
about the room in increasing quantity till, through a mishap of
Christian's, who shook the contents of one bag outside the tick,
the atmosphere of the room became dense with gigantic flakes, which
descended upon the workers like a windless snowstorm.

"I never saw such a clumsy chap as you, Christian," said G