ost ways."

"But not in all?--I hear startling tales of new-shaped waggons and other
adventures, to say nothing of your breaking up grass next spring."

"Well, if you don't see any difference between breaking up grass and
giving up church ..."

"They are both a revolt from habit."

"Now, don't you talk like that--it ain't seemly. I don't like hearing a
man make a mock of good things, and going to church is a good thing, as
I should ought to know, having just come out of it."

"I'm sorry," said Martin humbly, and for some reason he felt ashamed.
They were walking now along the Pedlinge road, and the whole Marsh, so
broad and simple, seemed to join in her rebuke of him.

She saw his contrite look, and repented of her sharpness.

"Come along home and have a bit of our Christmas dinner."

Martin stuttered--he had not expected such an invitation, and it alarmed
him.

"We all have dinner together on Christmas Day," continued Joanna, "men
and gals, old Stuppeny, Mrs. Tolhurst, everybody--we'd take it kindly if
you'd join us. But--I'm forgetting--you'll be having your own dinner at
home."

"We shan't have ours till the evening."

"Oh--late dinner"--her tone became faintly reverential--"it ud never do
if we had that. The old folk, like Stuppeny and such, ud find their
stomachs keep them awake. We've got two turkeys and a goose and plum
puddings and mince pies, to say nothing of the oranges and nuts--that
ain't the kind of food to go to bed with."

"I agree," said Martin, smiling.

"Then you'll come and have dinner at Ansdore?"

They had reached the first crossing of the railway line, and if he was
going back to North Farthing he should turn here. He could easily make
an excuse--no man really wanted to eat two Christmas dinners--but his
flutter was gone, and he found an attraction in the communal meal to
which she was inviting him. He would like to see the old folk at their
feast, the old folk who had been born on the Marsh, who had grown
wrinkled with its sun and reddened with its wind and bent with their
labours in its damp soil. There would be Joanna too--he would get a
close glimpse of her. It was true that he would be pulling the cord
between them a little tighter, but already she was drawing him and he
was coming willingly. To-day he had found in her an unsuspected streak
of goodness, a sound, sweet core which he had not looked for under his
paradox of softness and brutality.... It would be worth while comm