"Well, then, there's them concerts, and trips to the seaside, and school treats you was tellin' me about the other day. Don't he have nothin' to do with them?"
"Oh yis; he manages them, in coorse."
"Oh, 'ndeed! Well, now, how about the cricket clubs and the football clubs?"
"Oh, he's treasurer for them tue."
"Well, then—I don't hold much with parsons myself, but I should like to know wat's not his business!"
"That's not 'is business to come interferin' wi' us," said the man who had laughed derisively. It was he who had insulted the memory of Geo's father.
"Oh, ain't it? Well—- Don't be angry," as the man fired up; "I only ask for information. Who had the startin' o' these here wells?"
Nobody seemed anxious to answer this question, and Hayes did it himself.
"Why, the parson hisself, didn't he? And aren't he and the doctor answerable for the money? If any one has a right to say anything, I should think the parson has. But you're on the strike, and right or wrong you're in for it; but I don't mind tellin' of yer I ain't—I'm only one to four, and that's no good holdin' out. But I ain't one a' yer sneakin' sort; I ain't afeared ter speak out, no more'n th' parson, and I tell yer honest I hain't struck. I can't goo on by myself; but I've been a well-sinker all my days, and I know I niver had sech good pay offered to me before, and I'm content. If they don't give in, why, the well, I s'pose will have to be closed. But that don't matter to me; I can get plenty a' jobs at Ipswitch, an' I can go back where I come from, quite agreeable."
He put his pipe back into his mouth when he had finished his harangue, and puffed away for some moments in silence; and then the storm broke. The other men were furious at his words. They called him by every opprobrious name they could think of.