THE 'POWERS' THAT BE. 105 



he was ' kipping craows' for the last two or three. 

 Is n't that a proper amusement for a tiling with a 

 human skull, and a real live human brain inside it ? 

 That 's a promoted scare-crow ! Does n't he look 

 happy ?" 



" Well ! he 's a right to do. He 's doing his duty, 

 is n't he, as well as you and me ! You can't do with- 

 out him/' 



" Ah ! yes, yes ! that 's the answer. He 's a ma- 

 chine , driving a machine." 



" Well no not exactly that, neither. They tell 

 me a plough ain't a machine. Come, I have you 

 there for oncje, however. A plough 's only a tool." 



" True, true : a tool worked by horses, and drag- 

 ging a man after it. You never spoke plainer truth, 

 Greening ! And here we are somewhere near the 

 middle of the nineteenth century, and talk of agricul- 

 tural improvements ! It shames me to think of it." 



" What, ashamed o' the plough ! O dear, dear ! 

 Well, I a'in't, and never was, nor never shall be, 

 neither, that's more." 



" Too much, a little. How do you know you 



never will be ?" 



" Not, however, till something Oh, ho ! I 



know now what you 're after. You 're a-driving now ! 



