Seven had been the hour named, and punctually at that hour John Crumb knocked at the back door of Sheep’s Acre farm-house.  Nor did he come alone.  He was accompanied by his friend Joe Mixet, the baker of Bungay, who, as all Bungay knew, was to be his best man at his marriage.  John Crumb’s character was not without any fine attributes.  He could earn money,—­and having earned it could spend and keep it in fair proportion.  He was afraid of no work, and,—­to give him his due,—­ was afraid of no man.  He was honest, and ashamed of nothing that he did.  And after his fashion he had chivalrous ideas about women.  He was willing to thrash any man that ill-used a woman, and would certainly be...