To him Dick touched his hat.
"T' driver, sir, be o'ercome with near leader fallin' la-ame. He be an owd pal. Seems me tryin' t' buck 'im oop's gone wrong way down. So be you offers no objection, sir, I'll drive 'ee myself. Sam'l Bunce I'm called, and 'tis Ecclesthorpe where us wants to go."
The Reverend Mr. Dixon Mallaby looked him up and down with good-humoured scrutiny.
"I can't object to being pulled out of a hole," he replied. "And I don't think I should enjoy driving Mr. Grudger's cattle myself."
"Then if ye'll bid landlord have Ned Blossom sent on t' Ecclesthorpe when he be sober, I'll get t' three-cornered team hitched up."
And Dick went towards the stable, but turned back.
"Ought t' 'ave said, sir," he explained, "as I'll drive 'ee, so be as there's room for my daughter."
"The pretty girl on the bench there? Why, of course there's room. Does she want to see the match?"
"Doctor's orders she's to take all the fresh air there be, sir, and we're paying for't in shoe-leather. By same token, she looks after me too. Wouldn't let me out 'lone to-day, 'cos yesterday Ah went too free, an' got into a bit o' rough house."
"I see," said the clergyman. "That's a nasty cut on your cheek."