"To be sure I do," Mr Nicholls assented. "It's as practical as farmin', almost."
"In a manner o' speakin' it is," agreed Mr Widger grudgingly. "Men haven't all the same gifts. Now you'll hardly believe what happened to me the only time I ever took a sea trip."
"No?" politely queried Cai.
"I was sick," said Mr Widger, in a tone of vast reminiscent surprise.
"It does happen sometimes."
"Yes," repeated Mr Widger, "sick I was. It took place in Plymouth
Sound: and you don't catch me tryin' the sea again."
"Now what," inquired Mr Nicholls, "might be your opinion about Labour
Exemption Certificates, Captain Hocken?"
Cai was gravelled. His alleged interest in education had not as yet extended to a study of the subject.
Mrs Bosenna came to the rescue. Talk about education (she protested) was the last thing she could abide. Before the ploughing began she wanted to show Captain Hocken some work the hedgers had been doing at the lower end of the field.
At that moment, too, the local secretary came running with word that the first teams were already harnessed, and awaited the judges' preliminary inspection. Mr Widger and Mr Nicholls made their excuses, therefore, and hurried off to their duties.