150 Autumn 



a sack of wheat, or anything else in kind.' Or 

 Tummus, engaged for, say ten shillings a week, but 

 out of cash and credit both at Michaelmas or Lady 

 Day, marches up to his master, and in the great 

 kitchen, the only sitting-room of farmers like Henery 

 Kemble: and 'Please, muster, and axin' pardin,' 

 Tummus says, ' but it be six months since last 

 reck'nin', and I be wonderful short of brass, and if 

 I could have a bit o' my wages, muster .' To which 

 Farmer Giles thus : ' Sartin it is, Tummus, thy money 

 be dew. Wait, then, wile I get the book, and what 

 I owe 'ee I'll pay.' (He gives a look at his ledger.) 

 ' Drabbit, it comes to thirteen pounds, Tummus.' 



TUMMUS (all on fire): 'Just the very money, 

 muster ! ' 



GILES F. (deep in thought} : ' Ay, ay, Tummus, 

 but something mun come off it, I'm sure. We made 

 even last time by leaving the rent over : that's two 

 pound, and then, Tummus, you had a sovran at 

 Christmas ; and ten shill'n for the fair brings it to 

 9/. IOJ., lad.' 



TUMMUS (still blazing) : ' Yes, muster, I reckon 

 that be how it stands.' 



GILES : ' Nay, but Tummus, thou does not think 

 I can give thee meat and taters and cheese and milk 

 and coals for nowt, does thee ? Let me see now, meat 

 fower pound, potatoes two pound, coals a sovereign, 

 other trifles ten shill'n, rent two pound, why . . .' 



