"Not me," said that individual, feeling his right elbow with
tender solicitude. "I'm done wi' Black Jarge, I am. 'E nigh
broke my back for me once afore, but this is the last time; I
never swing a sledge for Black Jarge again--danged if I du!"
"And 'im to mend th' owd church screen up to Cranbrook Church,"
sighed the Ancient; "a wunnerful screen, a wunnerful screen!
older nor me--ah! a sight older hunneds and hunneds o' years
older--they wouldn't let nobody touch it but Black Jarge."
"'E be the best smith in the South Country!" nodded Simon.
"Ay, an' a bad man to work for as ever was!" growled Job. "I'll
work for 'e no more; my mind's made up, an' when my mind's made
up theer bean't no movin' me--like a rock I be!"
"'Twould ha' been a fine thing for a Siss'n'urst man to ha'
mended t' owd screen!" said the Ancient.
"'Twould that!" nodded Simon, "a shame it is as it should go to
others."
Hereupon, having finished my ale, I rose.
"Be you'm a-goin', young maister?" inquired the Ancient.
"Why, that depends," said I. "I understand that this man, Black
George, needs a helper, so I have decided to go and offer my
services."
"You!" exclaimed Job, staring in open-mouthed amazement, as did
also the other two.
"Why not?" I rejoined. "Black George needs a helper, and I need
money."
"My chap," said Job warningly, "don't ye do it. You be a tidy,
sizable chap, but Black Jarge ud mak' no more o' you than I
should of a babby--don't ye do it."
"Better not," said Simon.
"On the contrary," I returned, "better run a little bodily risk
and satisfy one's hunger, rather than lie safe but famishing
beneath some hedge or rick--what do you think, Ancient?"
The old man leaned forward and peered up at me sharply beneath
his hanging brows.
"Well?" said I.
"You'm right!" he nodded, "and a man wi' eyes the like o' yourn
bean't one as 'tis easy to turn aside, even though it do be Black
Jarge as tries."
"Then," said Job, as I took up my staff, "if your back's broke,
my chap--why, don't go for to blame me, that's all! You be a
sight too cocksure--ah, that you be!"
"I'm thinkin' Black Jarge would find this chap a bit different to
Job," remarked the Ancient. "What do 'ee think, Simon?"