That morning Reuben had a sleep after breakfast, and did not come down till dinner-time. He was told that Mrs. Realf wanted to see him and had been waiting in the parlour since ten. He smiled grimly, then settled his mouth into a straight line.
ONE:"Go away," she said, "we can't let you in.""Oh!" said Mary, dropping the clothes, and staggering to a seat"oh! Byles, Byles, we are lost! What will become of us! Sam will tell all!"
ONE:Pete fetched some soup from the larder and heated it up to a tepid condition; he also produced bread and cold bacon, which the prodigal could not touch. Albert sat hunched up by the fire, coughing and shivering. He had not altered much since he left Odiam; he was thin and hectic, and had an unshaved look about him, also there were a few grey streaks in his hairotherwise he was the same. His manner was the same too, though his voice had changed completely, and he had lost his Sussex accent."Kip off, or I'll slosh you one on the boko," cried the Lord's lost lamb swinging up a vigorous pair of fists. Reuben breathed a sigh of relief.
THREE:"Isn't it chick?" said Rose, "I got it in Hastingsthey say it is copied from a Paris model. Now let's go on with the unpacking."And my dreams are full of pain."
"Aye," said Calverley, with a smileif the curve of a bloodless lip could be so designated"aye, you name her rightly, Byles: she is a fox, and like a fox shall she die,hunteddriventortured. Byles, have you never heard it said that this woman was a witch?"That night Reuben came to supper as hungry as a wolf. He was in a fine good humour, for his body, pleasantly tired, glowing, aching, tickled with the smell of food, was giving him a dozen agreeable sensations."W?an't yer have summat t'eat, m?aster?" asked Beatup, looking in.Later in the afternoon they went out together. It seemed a pity to stay indoors in the soft swale, and Harry had to look at some poultry at Doozes. Naomi walked with her arm through his, her grey cloak over her shoulders.Chapter 7
