He got up and went running away as fast as he could. The master began to call after him. He wouldn’t turn back. The master kept running after him. When Jack saw the two of them travelling he went back to the dinner.
“Where is he gone to?” said the mistress.
“He’s after that man for his doings with you in the lime-kiln yesterday.”
The master came back to his dinner. When the mistress saw him coming she got up and took to her heels. When the master saw that, he asked where was she going?
“She’s going to drown herself,” said Jack, “for your kissing the servant girl in the byre last night.”
“Did she hear of that?” said the master. He went running after her. “Come back,” said he, “and I’ll never do it again.”
“Oh, don’t kill me,” said she, “and I’ll never do it again.”
She returned then and they took their dinner, but it was good for nothing. They ploughed till night-time. Jack was a good servant-boy. He put in his time.
When he left his master he went to the big town. He went tailoring. His master had twelve boys before he came. Jack wasn’t long with him when he was a great hand at the sewing. His time was nearly up. His master thought he would keep no one but Jack. The times were hard. He dismissed them every one but Jack. He kept him. They were tailoring one day. The master said to Jack it was a bad year.
“Don’t be afraid,” said Jack. “Do you see that field full of cattle over there?”