CHAPTER VI.

Theconversation,whichwasatahighpitchofanimationwhenSilasapproachedthedooroftheRainbow,had,asusual,beenslowandintermittentwhenthecompanyfirstassembled.Thepipesbegantobepuffedinasilencewhichhadanairofseveritythemoreimportantcustomers,whodrankspiritsandsatnearestthefire,staringateachotherasifabetweredependingonthefirstmanwhowinkedwhilethebeer-drinkers,chieflymeninfustianjacketsandsmock-frocks,kepttheireyelidsdownandrubbedtheirhandsacrosstheirmouths,asiftheirdraughtsofbeerwereafunerealdutyattendedwithembarrassingsadness.AtlastMr.Snell,thelandlord,amanofaneutraldisposition,accustomedtostandalooffromhumandifferencesasthoseofbeingswhowereallalikeinneedofliquor,brokesilence,bysayinginadoubtfultonetohiscousinthebutcher— “Somefolks’udsaythatwasafinebeastyoudruvinyesterday,Bob?” Thebutcher,ajolly,smiling,red-hairedman,wasnotdisposedtoanswerrashly.Hegaveafewpuffsbeforehespatandreplied,“Andtheywouldn’tbefurwrong,John.” Afterthisfeebledelusivethaw,thesilencesetinasseverelyasbefore. “WasitaredDurham?”saidthefarrier,takingupthethreadofdiscourseafterthelapseofafewminutes. Thefarrierlookedatthelandlord,andthelandlordlookedatthebutcher,asthepersonwhomusttaketheresponsibilityofanswering. “Reditwas,”saidthebutcher,inhisgood-humouredhuskytreble—“andaDurhamitwas.” “Thenyouneedn’ttellmewhoyouboughtitof,”saidthefarrier,lookingroundwithsometriumph“IknowwhoitishasgottheredDurhamso’thiscountry-side.Andshe’dawhitestaronherbrow,I’llbetapenny?”Thefarrierleanedforwardwithhishandsonhiskneesasheputthisquestion,andhiseyestwinkledknowingly. “Wellyes—shemight,”saidthebutcher,slowly,consideringthathewasgivingadecidedaffirmative.“Idon’tsaycontrairy.” “Iknewthatverywell,”saidthefarrier,throwinghimselfbackwardagain,andspeakingdefiantly“ifIdon’tknowMr.Lammeter’scows,Ishouldliketoknowwhodoes—that’sall.Andasforthecowyou’vebought,bargainornobargain,I’vebeenatthedrenchingofher—contradickmewhowill.” Thefarrierlookedfierce,andthemildbutcher’sconversationalspiritwasrousedalittle. “I’mnotforcontradickingnoman,”hesaid“I’mforpeaceandquietness.Someareforcuttinglongribs—I’mforcutting’emshortmyselfbutIdon’tquarrelwith’em.AllIsayis,it’salovelycarkiss—andanybodyaswasreasonable,it’udbringtearsintotheireyestolookatit.” “Well,it’sthecowasIdrenched,whateveritis,”pursuedthefarrier,angrily“anditwasMr.Lammeter’scow,elseyoutoldaliewhenyousaiditwasaredDurham.” “Itellnolies,”saidthebutcher,withthesamemildhuskinessasbefore,“andIcontradicknone—notifamanwastoswearhimselfblack:he’snomeato’mine,nornoneo’mybargains.AllIsayis,it’salovelycarkiss.AndwhatIsay,I’llsticktobutI’llquarrelwi’noman.” “No,”saidthefarrier,withbittersarcasm,lookingatthecompanygenerally“andp’rhapsyouaren’tpig-headedandp’rhapsyoudidn’tsaythecowwasaredDurhamandp’rhapsyoudidn’tsayshe’dgotastaronherbrow—sticktothat,nowyou’reatit.” “Come,come,”saidthelandlord“letthecowalone.Thetruthliesatweenyou:you’rebothrightandbothwrong,asIallayssay.Andasforthecow’sbeingMr.Lammeter’s,IsaynothingtothatbutthisIsay,astheRainbow’stheRainbow.Andforthemattero’that,ifthetalkistobeo’theLammeters,youknowthemostupo’thathead,eh,Mr.Macey?YourememberwhenfirstMr.Lammeter’sfathercomeintotheseparts,andtooktheWarrens?” Mr.Macey,tailorandparish-clerk,thelatterofwhichfunctionsrheumatismhadoflateobligedhimtosharewithasmall-featuredyoungmanwhosatoppositehim,heldhiswhiteheadononeside,andtwirledhisthumbswithanairofcomplacency,slightlyseasonedwithcriticism.Hesmiledpityingly,inanswertothelandlord’sappeal,ands