Nicodemus, full of righteous indignation, replied sharply:
“I don’t want to listen to what you says. You listen to what I says. I be old in wisdom, and you be old in your blarsted ignerunce. We pore folks’ll suffer for this.”
A red glow suffused itself. Almost immediately a peal of distant thunder was heard. Timothy, erect and menacing, exclaimed solemnly:
“This be the Day o’ Judgment.”
Nicodemus shook his fist at him.
“If that be so, you stand wi’ the goats.”
But really he was impressed by Timothy’s deportment. The man seemed to have expanded. He had the air of an inspired prophet as he lifted his deep voice:
“May God A’mighty deal this day wi’ Lady Selina Chandos as she has dealt wi’ me and mine!”
IV
George Ball, the village constable, joined the group under the tree, and dismounted from his bicycle. He was a heavy, good-natured man, ordinarily lethargic. He spoke with authority: