ch
other, and looked at him, and asked him a good many questions. They were
neither of them hasty, but, as the woman's manner was the more
vivacious, so her questions, when translated, showed a somewhat quicker
wit. When all was said, like wise people, they pronounced no sentence,
either upon Trenholme's actions or upon those of the creature that had
inhabited the coffin; but they remarked that if the carter had committed
no evil he would not have run away. They said that they had some
knowledge of this man, whom they called "Monsieur Saul," and that he was
a fellow of little worth. They agreed that Turrif should go with
Trenholme, as requested, to bring the man to book.

On crossing the threshold of the house Trenholme had come at once into a
large, long room, which composed the whole lower flat of the dwelling,
as appeared from the windows on both sides and from the fact that the
staircase went up from one end of it. It was a comfortable, well-warmed
room, containing evidences of all the various industries of the family,
from the harness that hung on the wall and the basket of carded wool by
the spinning-wheel, to the bucket of cow's mash that stood warming by
the stove at the foot of the baby's cradle. At the far end a large
table, that held the candle, had a meal spread upon it, and also some
open dog's-eared primers, at which small children were spelling audibly.

When the conference, which had taken place near the door, was over, the
wife went back to her children and her lighted table, and Trenholme made
as if to open the door, supposing that Turrif would walk away with him.

"Eh--_non,"_ said the older man, with a kindly smile. _"Pas encore,"_
and taking Trenholme by the arm, he pushed him gently towards the table.
"I weel get out my 'orse," said he, in slow, broken English. "You have
had enough walking to-day, and I have had enough work. _A
present"_--with a gesture toward the table.

He made Trenholme sit down at the table. There was a very large pan of
thick sour milk on it, and a loaf of grey bread. Bits of this bread were
set round the edge of the table, near the children, who munched at them.

Turrif gave Trenholme a bit of bread, cutting into the loaf as men only
do in whose lives bread is not scarce. With a large spoon he took a
quantity of the thick rich cream from the top of the milk and put a
saucer of it before the visitor. Trenholme ate it with his bread, and
found it not as sour as he expected,