‘Well, I hope not so bad as that,’ said Mr. Cope, ’he’s not a bad-looking boy; but I dare say you are anxious about your brother.  It must be dull for him, to have his companion laid up;—­and by the looks of him, I dare say his spirits are sometimes too much for you,’ he added, turning to Alfred.

‘He does make a terrible racket sometimes,’ said Alfred.

’Ay, and I dare say you will try to bear with it, and not drive him out to seek dangerous company,’ said Mr. Cope; at which Alfred blushed a little, as he remembered the morning, and that he had never thought of this danger.

Mr. Cope added, ’I think I shall go and talk to those two merry fellows; I must not tire you, my lad, but I will soon come here again;’ and he took leave.

Heartily did Ellen exclaim, ‘Well, that is a nice gentleman!’ and as heartily did Alfred reply.  He felt as if a new light had come in on his life, and Mr. Cope had not said one word about patience.

Ellen expected Mr. Cope to come back and warn her mother against Paul Blackthorn, but she only saw him stand talking to the two lads till he made them both grin again, and then as the rain was over, he walked away; Paul went back to his turnips, and Harold came thundering up-stairs in his great shoes.  Alfred was cheerful, and did not mind him now; but Ellen did, and scolded him for the quantity of dirt he was bringing up with him from the moist garden, which was all one steam of sweet smells, as the sun drew up the vapour after the rain.

’If you were coming in, you’d better have come out of the rain, not stood idling there with that good-for-nothing lad.  The new minister said he would be after you if you were taking up with bad company.’

‘Who told you I was with bad company?’ said Harold.

‘Why, I could see it!  I hope he rebuked you both.’

’He asked us if we could play at cricket—­and he asked the pony’s name,’ said Harold, ‘if that’s what you call rebuking us!’

‘And what did he say to that boy?’

’Oh! he told him he heard he was a stranger here, like himself, and asked how long he’d been here, and where he came from.’

‘And what did he say?’

’He said he was from Upperscote Union—­come out because he was big enough to keep himself, and come to look for work,’ said Harold.  ’He’s a right good chap, I’ll tell you, and I’ll bring him up to see Alfy one of these days!’

‘Bring up that dirty boy!  I should like to see you!’ cried Ellen, making such a face.  ’I don’t believe a word of his coming out of the Union.  I’m sure he’s run away out of gaol, by the look of him!’

‘Ellen—­Harold—­come down to your tea!’ called Mrs. King.

So they went down; and presently, while Mrs. King was gone up to give Alfred his tea, there came Mrs. Shepherd bustling across, with her black silk apron thrown over her cap with the crimson gauze ribbons.  She wanted a bit of tape, and if there were none in the shop, Harold must match it in Elbury when he took the letters.