"Very nice, thank you kindly," he answered, looking into her eyes and wondering at the colour of them.
"John Prout's a good old chap," she said.
"So he is, then. Never met a better."
"How his sister can keep all you men in order I don't know, I'm sure."
"She's a very patient creature. Here's luck, Mr. Friend."
He turned to the peat-master and lifted his mug. Gregory thanked him.
"You'm an understanding chap, seemingly; though they'm rare in the rising generation. What's your work to Ruddyford?"
Dan's face fell.
"To be plain with you, not all I could wish. Master 'pears to think a man of my inches can't be no good in the head. He puts nought but heavy work upon me—not that I mind that, for I can do what it takes two others to do—to say it without boasting, being built so. But I'm an understanding man, as you be good enough to allow, and I'd hoped that he'd have seen it, too, and let me have authority here an' there."
"Of course," said Sarah Jane. "If you can do two men's work, you ought to have the ordering of people."