The men—there were no women present except Mrs. De Witt—quickly evacuated the house and pushed into the stable and cowhouse.
There was no horse, and only one cow. The sheep were on the saltings. There was no cart, and very few tools of any sort. The little farm was solely a sheep farm, there was not an acre of tillage land attached to it.
The clerk climbed up into the cart.
'Stop, stop, for Heaven's sake!' gasped Mehalah dashing up. 'What is this! Why have we not been warned?'
'Oh yes! forewarned indeed, and get rid of the things,' growled Mrs. De Witt. 'But I did tell you what I should do, and precious good-natured I was to do it.'
Mehalah darted past her into the house.
'Tell me, tell me!' cried the excited mother, 'have you the money?'
'No. The parson could not let me have it.'
'Hark! they have begun the sale. What is it they are crying now?'
'The clock, mother. Oh, this is dreadful.'