Plot and Counterplot. 117

cribbing strips of land as wasn’t his, and putting
fellows into jail for poaching, and turning of them
out of their houses for not voting the way he told
them, and having of ’em up for using bad language
agin him. He uses bad language hissclf, and pretty
strong too. And, last thing of all, he’ve a stopped
up a right of way as granfer minds using from the
time he were a little lad, and it’s made them as was
turned out of their way real savage ; and now they
say as the Squire durstn’t shew hisself after dark ;
and reason too, for he might chance to get more of
people’s minds than he bargains for.” Tommy
stopped to draw breath, grinning as though he
rather enjoyed the whole affair.

“Good heavens, Tommy,” said I, “ this is dread-
ful!”

“Aint it?” said Tommy, grinning wider than
ever. ‘ Lor, Reuben, what’s the use of lookin’ cut
up about it ? you takes everything to heart.”

“Well, it’s very dreadful, you know,” said I, try-
ing to look unconcerned. Then I asked the names
of those whom Mr. Prickard had injured ; and, as I
expected, my father’s three companions were among
the foremost.

“Vou did not hear my father’s name mixed up
with this in any way, did you ?” I asked.

“ Goodness, Reuben, lad, do you know so little of