ugh
power even when the water is small; so we shan't want a steam-engine
after all.

_J. F_. When do we begin wheat harvest?

_3rd Neighbour_. Next Thursday in the ten-acre; the crop is heavy and
the weather looks quite settled; so we shall have a jolly time of it.

_J. F_. Well, I'm glad I know in good time; for I never like to miss
seeing the first row of reapers going into the corn. Is there anything
else?

_W. J_. Well, there's one troublesome business, chairman (_looks_ _at_
C. N., _who trembles and moans_). There's that dog we caught, that
thief, that useless beast. What is to be done with him?

_C. N_. (_Aside_, That's me! that's me! To think that a justice should
be spoken of in such language! What am I to do? What am I to do?)

_2nd Neighbour_. Well, chairman, I think we must shoot him. Once a
thief always a thief, you see, with that kind of brute. I'm sorry,
because he has been so badly brought up; and though he is an ugly dog, he
is big and burly; but I must say that I think it must be done, and as
soon as possible. He'll be after the girls if we don't do it at once!

_C. N_. (_Aside_: What! have they got hold of that story, then?)

_J. F_. Well, neighbours, what's to be said? anybody against it? Is
this unpleasant business agreed to?

_All_. Agreed, agreed.

_J. F_. Well, then, let the dog be shot. Bill, it's your turn for an
ugly job this time: you must do it.

_W. J_. Well, if it must be, it must. I'll go and get a gun in a
minute.

_C. N_. Oh, God! to think of their disposing of a fellow-man's life with
so little ceremony! And probably they will go and eat their dinners
afterwards and think nothing of it. (_Throwing himself on his knees
before_ JACK FREEMAN.) Oh, your Socialist worship! Oh, citizen my lord!
spare me, spare me! Send me to prison, load me with chains, but spare my
life!

_J. F_. Why, what ails the man? Chains! we don't use chains for that
sort of thing. They're good to fasten up boats with, and for carts, and
such like; so why should we waste them by ornamenting you with them? And
as to prison, we can't send you to prison, because we haven't got one.
How could we have one? who would be the jailer? No, no; we can't be
bothered with you in prison. You must learn to behave decently.

_C. N_. What! have you no punishment but death, then? O! what am I to
do? what am I to do?

_1st Neighbour_. Do? Why, behave decently.

_C. N_. But how ca