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I can't talk if you do not," said Old Brownsmith, with a comical look at me, and I went on busily again while he continued his story. "When Brother Anselm had obtained the prior's leave to try his experiment he felt nervous and shrank from the task. He went down the garden and looked at the trees that he had cut, and he felt more than ever that a man was, as the monks said, not an apple-tree.
Old Brownsmith had no sooner left the pit than Ike seized a couple of handsful of roses, plunged with them into the basket, bobbed up, and looked at me with one eye, just as he caught me noticing him intently. "Rum un, ain't I?" he said, gruffly, and taking me terribly aback. "Not much to look at, eh?" "You look very strong," I said, evasively. "Strong, eh? Yes, and so I am, my lad.
Old Brownsmith would not be able to catch one of the boys, but Shock would if he was up in the loft, and in the hope that he was sleeping there I ran to the foot of the steps, scrambled up, and pushing back the door, which was only secured with a big wooden latch, I crept in as cautiously as I could. "Shock!" I whispered. "Shock! Are you here?" I listened, but there was not a sound. "Shock!"
"Well, that does not matter," said Old Brownsmith. "Come, sit down; bread and milk morning." I sat down opposite to him, to find that a big basin of bread and milk stood before each of us, and at which, after a short grace, Old Brownsmith at once began. I hesitated for a moment, feeling a little awkward and strange, but I was soon after as busy as he.
"Yes, master, he's the very thing, if you'll send some one to hold him, or lend me a dog-collar and chain." "Don't be an idiot, Ike," said Old Brownsmith sharply. "No, master." "Would you rather have this boy?" "Would I rather? Just hark at him!"
"They don't care much about going down these sort o' places; no more don't I. We're well out of that job, my lad. You didn't ought to have gone." "But that boy was running off with the best cart rope, Ike," I said despondently, "and I was trying to get it back, and now it's gone. What will Mr Brownsmith say?"
Old Brownsmith gave me a nod, and as I passed through the kitchen Mrs Dodley looked at me with such piteous eyes and so wrinkled a forehead that I stopped. "Why, what's the matter?" I asked. "Oh, don't ask me, my dear, don't ask me. What could master be a-thinking!"
"Kiver up the well for to-day, and come on tomorrow." "But we want water." "Can't help it; I couldn't go down and work there to-day. My nerves is shook." "Suppose we put a rope round you." "Bless your heart, Mr Brownsmith, sir, I couldn't go down if you put two ropes round me. I'm just going to lift out this here ladder, and then p'r'aps your man will help me put on the stone."
They got all my money." "They did?" "Yes," I said dolefully; "and then there's the rope. What will Mr Brownsmith say?" "Nothin' at all," said Ike. "But he will," I cried again. "No he won't, because we'll buy a new one 'fore we goes back." "I thought of that," I said, "but I've no money now." "Oh, all right! I have," he said.
"Oh, no!" said Old Brownsmith sarcastically. "Let the baskets lie where they are. It doesn't matter about sending to market to sell the things. You never want any wages!" "What's the good o' talking to a man like that, master?" growled Ike. "You know you don't mean it, no more'n I meant to send the sieves atop o' young Grant here. I'm werry sorry; and a man can't say fairer than that."
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