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 ‘Now take up that basket, and go on to Marlott, and when you come to The Pure Drop Inn, tell ’em to send a horse and carriage to me immediately, to carry me home. And in the bottom o’ the carriage they be to put a noggin o’ rum in a small bottle, and chalk it up to my account. And when you’ve done that go on to my house with the basket, and tell my wife to put away that washing, because she needn’t finish it, and wait till I come home, as I’ve news to tell her.’

As the lad stood in a dubious attitude, Durbeyfield put his hand in his pocket, and produced a shilling, one of the comparatively few that he possessed.

‘Here’s for your labour, lad’

This made a difference in the young man’s estimate of the position.

‘Yes, Sir John. Thank you. Anything else I can do for ’ee, Sir John?’

‘Tell ’em at home that I should like for supper,—well, lamb’s fry if they can get it; and if they can’t, black-pot; and if they can’t get that, well, chitterlings will do.’

‘Yes, Sir John.’