“Do you know, father”, he said, “I think we’d best go down into the hollow and put our fence to rights, which is blown down, before the neighbours’ swine get in and root up our meadow.”
“Aye, aye, let’s go and do it”, said the man; for he did all he was told, good, easy man.
So when the afternoon was half spent, down came the Goody sneaking along into the mead, with something under her apron.
“Nay, nay, mother”, said the man, “it can’t be you any longer; are we to have a snack between meals too?”
“Yes, yes, that you shall”, she said; but she was sourer and wilder than ever.
So they made merry, and crammed themselves with bannocks and butter, and had a drop of brandy into the bargain.
“I’ll go off to Tom Totherhouse with a snack—shan’t I, mother?” said the lad. “He’s had nothing between meals, I’ll be bound.”
“Ah! do; there’s a good fellow”, said the Goody, who all at once got as mild as milk.
As he went along the lad broke a bannock to bits, and dropped the crumbs here and there as he walked. But when he got to Tom Totherhouse he said:
“Now, just you take care, for our old cock has found out that you come too often to see our Goody. He won’t stand it any longer, and has sworn to drive his axe into you as soon as ever he can set eyes on you.”