Our Home. 185

“Cheerly, Reuben, cheerly,” said my master. “If
they had not a mind to take him, they would not
have sent for him to come so far.”

Mrs. Howells, who was dusting the staircase,
chimed in—‘“ And if they wants any witnesses for
tidiness and quiet ways, tell you them to come to me.”

I laughed ; but her offer cheered me, and I
plucked up heart to set forth, My way was at first
along the well-known road to Llangovan, where
Farmer Williams, who was going to a fair in the
neighbourhood, had promised to give me a lift as
far as our roads lay together. My old bashfulness
still clung to me; and in order to avoid the village,
I struck across some fields which led to Williams’
farm. The farmer was not yet down, having caught
a bad cold; and I was sorry to find that it was
Simon who was to be my companion, for I was still
boy enough to find Simon’s airs of superiority hard
to bear.

“So you’ve took to schoolmastering,” he began,
after we had driven some way in silence. “ Well,
I da’ say it will about suit you. Best take old
Tombs’ place ; there’s only Martha the cripple, and
for sure you could make a shift to beat her.”

“Why, what has become of Mr. Tombs?” I said.

“Oh, gone to th’ Union,” answered Simon, in as
matter-of-fact a tone as though the workhouse were