Luke, the Rabbit Contractor 165 



was to take out his snuff-box, tap it, and offer it to 

 the person addressing him. This he would do to a 

 farmer, even though it were the largest tenant of all. 

 For this snuff-box was a present from the lady at the 

 great house, who took an interest in poor old Luke's 

 infirmities, and gave him the snuff-box, a really good 

 piece of workmanship, well filled with the finest snuff, 

 to console his wretchedness. 



Of this box Luke was as proud as if it had been 

 the insignia of the Legion of Honour, and never lost 

 an opportunity of showing it to everyone of standing. 

 When the village heard of this kindly present it ran 

 over in its mind all that it knew about the stile, and 

 the sacks, and the disused oven. Then the village 

 very quietly shrugged its shoulders, and though it 

 knew not the word irony, well understood what that 

 term conveys. 



At the foot of the hill on which the Upper Woods 

 were situate there extended a level tract of meadows 

 with some cornfields. Through these there flowed a 

 large slow brook, often flooded in winter by the water 

 rushing down from the higher lands. It was pleasant 

 in the early year to walk now and then along the 

 footpath that followed the brook, noting the gradual 

 changes in the hedges. 



When the first swallow of the spring wheels over 



