spite of his leg and his deceit—just to pass time like; I’ve known some on ’em do as mich, and some o’ t’ bonniest and mimest looking too—ay! I’ve seen clean, trim young things, that looked as denty and pure as daisies, and wi’ time a body fun’ ’em out to be nowt but stinging, venomed nettles.”
“Joe’s a sensible fellow,” interjected Helstone.
“Howsiver, Sarah had another string to her bow: Fred. Murgatroyd, one of our lads, is for her, and as women judge men by their faces—and Fred. has a middling face, while Moses is none so handsome, as we all knaw—the lass took on wi’ Fred. A two-three months sin’, Murgatroyd and Moses chanced to meet one Sunday night; they’d both come lurking about these premises wi’ the notion of counselling Sarah to tak’ a bit of a walk wi’ them; they fell out, had a tussel, and Fred. was worsted: for he’s young and small, and Barraclough, for all he has only one leg, is almost as strong as Sugden there; indeed, anybody that hears him roaring at a revival or a love-feast, may be sure he’s no weakling.”
“Joe, you’re insupportable,” here broke in Mr. Moore. “You spin out your explanation as Moses spins out his sermons. The long and short of it is, Murgatroyd was jealous of Barraclough, and last night, as he and a friend took shelter in a barn from a shower, they heard and saw Moses conferring with some associates within. From their discourse, it
