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Jarge, do thou run back to t' house as hard as thou canst go. Loight t' lanterns and bring 'em along, wi' a can o' cold water." Although the boy ran to the village and back at the top of his speed the time seemed long indeed to those who were waiting. When he returned they set to work at once to examine the injuries. Ned appeared to have received but one blow.
He still hesitated, and, turning to the others, said: "You tell the master, Bill." Bill was not so diffident. "Well," he said, "we couldn't see a good-looking 'ooman in Lunnon; for Jarge here, 'e was judge over 'em for a bit, and then Tom 'e took it, nor 'e couldn't see one neither!" Jarge was somewhat of a bon vivant, and much appreciated my annual present of a piece of Christmas beef.
Jarge, who was much exercised in his mind as to the possibility of future bad management, came to me, and referring to a proposal to place working-men on the Board, said: "We wants men like you, sir, for members; what's the good of sending we dunderyeads there?"
"Stow yer gab, Jarge," retorted Surly, more surly than ever, "you be a sight too fond o' usin' that theer voice o' your'n!" saying which he turned to Barnabas: "Did ye see ever a desprit, poachin' wagabone run down this 'ere lane, sir?" he inquired. "No," answered Barnabas. "Well, did ye see ever a thievin' wastrel run oop this 'ere lane?" demanded Stentor. "No," answered Barnabas.
"Look'ee, sir, do'ee see that theer clock?" and he would point with a bony, tremulous finger "stopped it were got sum'mat wrong wi' its inn'ards wouldn't stir a finger dead it were! But that bye Jarge 'e see it 'e did give it a look over 'e did, an' wi' nout but 'is two 'ands set it a-goin' good as ever: You, Silas Madden, you remember as 'e done it wi' 'is two 'ands?" "'Is two 'ands!"
Us best be gettin' down along, Jarge, a rackun. Jarge. Ay, bor, time us chaps was moving. Dear old men! How I love them all in this village! I have known it all my life. How strange it is that I have never had a father or mother. Enter Hugh Fitzhugh, Squire. Did ever man come into stranger inheritance?
I selected Jarge for foreman of the hop-picking as a most responsible and trustworthy man; it was then that his sense of humour was most conspicuous, a very important and valuable trait when 300 women and children, and the men who supplied them with hops on the poles, have to be kept cheerful and good-tempered every day and all day for three weeks or a month, sometimes under trying conditions.
He rose to his feet with perplexity in his dark eyes, mechanically pulling up the bleached leather thigh-boots he wore afloat and ashore, "rainy-come-fine." Inspiration had come, as it does to men of the West once the need is realised to the full. "Du 'ee mind that there li'l' ole copper boiler what come out o' granfer's house when 'er blawed down back tu '98?" asked Young Jarge slowly.
"That's Job!" nodded the Ancient. "Poor fellow!" said I, and rose to go to his assistance. "Oh, that weren't nothin'," said the Ancient, laying, a restraining hand upon my arm, "nothin' at all. Job bean't 'urt; why, I've seen 'em fall further nor that afore now, but y' see Job be pretty heavy handlin' even for Black Jarge."
Howbut I may save tha time and tell thea downroight that Sir Jarge forged his uncle's will, and so gotten the Grange. That 'ee keeps his niece in mortal fear o' he. That tha'll be put in haunted chamber wi' a boggle." "I think," said the young man hesitatingly, "that there must be some mistake. I do not know any Sir George, and I am NOT going to the Grange." "Eay!
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