'Give me berries of the rowan.'
With his sour grin the old fellow muttered, 'Well, well, no wits after all!' as he plucked some bunches and chucked them across.
'More! more! and oh! quick; I lose time. See, fill up my cap.'
'All you can't have. My brats have been promised their handfuls, and want you may.'
When all that entreaty could get he had, Christian parted at a run, and the way he took was home.
Rhoda wondered, seeing him pass the window. Presently, laying aside resentment, she went out to seek him in the linhay. The door resisted her hand.
'Christian,' she called, and after his answer, 'Come in. What are you about? Bring in your work; there is fire still.'
He said 'No' so forcibly, that she went away aggrieved, and a little curious.
All was very quiet; of Lois she heard and saw nothing, and Christian made no noise at all. She wondered if he too were engaged in prayer; she wondered if she ought also to be so devoted.
From the window she saw two figures on the road, and watched them idly. They neared, and from the opposite approach came two others. All four were known to her by sight, though hailing from some distance; they were kin to Philip; two were father and son, two were brothers. At the gate they stood, and turned in.