The Coachmaster 



feeling, and why on earth they'd even come 

 there they couldn't say. So they called 

 for some ale and cider, and betook them- 

 selves to their carts, or mounted their cobs 

 and jogged leisurely home on the hot white 

 roads. 



My Father was sitting at tea In the little 

 parlour behind our office In East Street, 

 glancing every now and again at a piece 

 of paper lying by his plate, full of the 

 figures Mary had been totting up for him, 

 when in came the Lewes corn- merchant. 



''Hullo! old friend, what's all this .^ " 

 cried the kindly giant In a voice that went 

 well with his size. "Calling your 

 creditors Indeed ! Never heard of such a 

 thing in a man oiyotiJ'- respectability ! And 

 don't you know as all of us to a man 'ud be 

 proud to serve you with goods as long as 

 you want 'em ? and dang the payment till 

 times are good again ! " 



My Father looked up at him with open 

 eyes and mouth, then he stretched out his 

 hand to him and tried to speak his thanks. 



'' I'm sure we hardly know how to thank 

 you," said my sister Mary, coming forward 

 and putting her right hand in the good 

 fellow's, and her left on my Father's shoul- 

 der, "but we do thank you, Mr. Roffey, and 

 the other gentlemen too, very truly Indeed." 

 80 



