or three."

But he shook his head.

"Ban't a subject for a loving man to say much on, awnly truth 's truth.
I seed it written in the Coomstock Bible wan day. Fifty-five she were
when she married first. Well, ban't in reason she twald the naked truth
'bout it, an' who'd blame her on such a delicate point? No, I'd judge
her as near my awn age as possible; an' to speak truth, not so well
preserved as what I be."

"How's Monks Barton gwaine to fare without 'e, Blee?" whined the miller.

"As to that, be gormed if I knaw how I'll fare wi'out the farm. But
love--well, theer 't is. Theer 's money to it, I knaw, but what do that
signify? Nothin' to me. You'll see me frequent as I ride here an'
theer--horse, saddle, stirrups, an' all complete; though God He knaws
wheer my knees'll go when my boots be fixed in stirrups. But a man must
use 'em if theer 's the dignity of money to be kept up. 'T is just wan
of them oncomfortable things riches brings with it."

While Miller Lyddon still argued with Billy against the step he now
designed, there arrived from Chagford the stout Mr. Chappie, with his
mouth full of news.

"More weddin's," he said. "I comed down-long to tell 'e, lest you
shouldn't knaw till to-morrow an' so fall behind the times. Widow
Coomstock 's thrawed up the sponge and gived herself to that
importuneous auld Lezzard. To think o' such a Methuselah as him--aulder
than the century--fillin' the eye o' that full-bodied--"

"It's a black lie--blacker 'n hell--an' if't was anybody but you brought
the news I'd hit un awver the jaw!" burst out Mr. Blee, in a fury.

"He tawld me hisself. He's tellin' everybody hisself. It comed to a
climax to-day. The auld bird's hoppin' all awver the village so proud as
a jackdaw as have stole a shiny button. He'm bustin' wi' it in fact."

"I'll bust un! An' his news, tu. An' you can say, when you'm axed, 't is
the foulest lie ever falled out of wicked lips."

Billy now took his hat and stick from their corner and marched to the
door without more words.

"No violence, mind now, no violence," begged Mr. Lyddon. "This
love-making 's like to wreck the end of my life, wan way or another,
yet. 'T is bad enough with the young; but when it comes to auld,
bald-headed fules like you an' Lezzard--"

"As to violence, I wouldn't touch un wi' the end of a dung-fork--I
wouldn't. But I'm gwaine to lay his lie wance an' for all. I be off to
parson this instant moment. An' when my banns of marria