United States or Ukraine ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !


Matt Peke chuckled. The Reverend Mr. Arbroath started indignantly, and stared so hard that his rat-brown eyes visibly projected from his head. "Not very good Christianity!" he echoed. "What what do you mean? How dare you speak to me about Christianity!" "Ay, 'tis a bit aff!" drawled "Feathery" Joltram, thrusting his great hands deep into his capacious trouser-pockets.

Then Dubble, rousing himself from a pleasant ale-warm lethargy, broke the spell. "Dorned if it aint old Arbroath!" he said. "Ay, ay, 'tis old Arbroath zartin zure!" responded "Feathery" Joltram placidly. "Let 'un coom in! Let 'un coom in!"

Th' owd way o' wurrk's the best way, brain, 'ands, feet an' good ztrong body all zet on't, an' no meanderin' aff it! Take my wurrd the Lord A'mighty doant 'elp corn to grow if there's a whinin' zany ahint the plough!" With these distinctly "out-of-date" notions, "Feathery" Joltram had also set himself doggedly against church-going and church people generally.

But if 'e's wantin' to 'arn a mossel o' victual, I'll find 'im a lightsome job on the farm if he'll reckon to walk oop to me afore noon to-morrer. Tell 'im' that from farmer Joltram, an' good-night t'ye!" He strode out, and before eleven had struck, the old-fashioned iron bar clamped down across the portal, and the inn was closed.

Arbroath flushed a dark red, and his lips tightened over his teeth vindictively. "There's a zummat for tha thinkin' on, Pazon Arbroath!" said "Feathery" Joltram, suddenly rising from his chair and showing himself in all his great height and burly build. "Zummat for a zermon on owd Nick, when tha're wantin' to scare the zhoolboys o' Zundays!" Mr. Arbroath's countenance changed from red to pale.

"Ah, tha be graat on the love business, Tom!" chuckled "Feathery" Joltram, lifting his massive body with a shake out of the depths of his comfortable chair. "Zeems to me tha's zummat like the burd what cozies a new mate ivery zummer!" Tom o' the Gleam laughed, his strong even white teeth shining like a row of pearls between his black moustaches and short-cropped beard.

Joltram but I've only one object left to me in life, and that is to get on, and find the person I'm looking for if I can!" "Oh, you're looking for a person, are you?" queried Miss Tranter, more amicably "Some long-lost relative?" "No, not a relative, only a friend." "I see!"

'Ullo, Parson! Goin'?" The door slammed furiously, Arbroath had suddenly lost his dignity and temper together. Peke's raillery proved too much for him, and amid the loud guffaws of "Feathery" Joltram, Bill Bush and the rest, he beat a hasty retreat, and they heard his heavy footsteps go hurriedly across the passage of the "Trusty Man," and pass out into the road beyond.

And again the laughter pealed out long and loud, "Feathery" Joltram bending himself double with merriment, and slapping the sides of his huge legs in ecstasy. Miss Tranter hearing the continuous uproar, looked in warningly, but there was a glimmering smile on her face. "We'se goin', Miss Tranter!" announced Bill Bush, his wizened face all one broad grin.

And he also found out that the sturdy farmer sedately sucking his pipe in a corner, and now and then throwing in an unexpected and random comment on whatever happened to be the topic of conversation, was known as "Feathery" Joltram, though why "Feathery" did not seem very clear, unless the term was, as it appeared to be, an adaptation of "father" or "feyther" Joltram.