THE NATURAL MAN 265 



cost of life each of these must be discussed as if it 

 had not been discussed over and again in this same 

 village up the little vale. But I think the thing that 

 tickled most was one affecting social standing. Fancy 

 " our George " sitting for supper at the same board as 

 his master, and even calling master by a Christian name 

 a master, too, who is passing rich ! It is only the 

 bright spirits of the village that can quite grasp this, 

 and freely remark on it. It is too much for the wit 

 of the majority. They flounder "Hear thikky!" 

 " Did 'er then ? " " Lawk-a-mussy ! " This part of the 

 young traveller's story makes the fabled world out 

 there seem to them topsy-turvy. 



There was a large wooden box which the returning 

 native had with him. The carrier's cart brought it 

 the last six miles of its journey of thousands at a 

 pace peculiar to carrier's carts in these out-of-the- 

 world spots. One would have liked to be by at its 

 unpacking. It must have been to the family a very 

 Pandora's box without the ills. That the various 

 treasures and farming samples might not be shaken 

 rudely on the journey across sea and soil the crevices 

 had been stuffed with hay from the wonderful land, 

 and this hay, like everything else there, seems to be 

 on the large scale; strong and benty, so the village 

 judges of hay find it and who in a village is not a 

 judge of hay ? 



The fascinating box with Hope still at the bottom 

 was repacked, and the carrier's cart took it the first 



