Page:Lorna Doone - a romance of Exmoor (IA lornadooneromanc269blac).pdf/126



had now six shillings a-week of regular and permanent wage, besides all harvest and shearing money, as well as a cottage rent-free, and enough of garden-ground to rear pot-herbs for his wife, and all his family. Now the wages appointed by our justices, at the time of sessions, were four-and-sixpence a-week for summer, and a shilling less for the winter-time; and we could be fined, and perhaps imprisoned, for giving more than the sums so fixed. Therefore John Fry was looked upon as the richest man upon Exmoor, I mean of course ainong labourers, and there were many jokes about robbing him, as if he were the Mint of the king; and Tom Faggus promised to try his hand, if he came across John on the highway, although he had ceased from business, and was seeking a Royal pardon.

Now is it according to human nature, or is it a thing contradictory (as I would fain believe)? But any how, there was, upon Exmoor, no more discontented man, no man more sure that he had not his worth, neither