Chapter XVI

uldonlymope,andifI’mwantedIcanalwaysbesentfor.” HeleftwordthathewasgoingtoBewlie’sFarmtoseeasickcow,aboutwhichhewasveryanxious. “She’sthebestmilkerI’veeverhad.Idon’tknowwhatIshoulddoifanythingwentwrongwithher.Shegivesherso-manypintsaday,asregularaspossible.She’sbroughtinoverandoveragainthemoneyIgaveforher.” HewalkedalongwiththefreeandeasystepwhichBerthasomuchadmired,glancingnowandthenatthefieldswhichborderedthehighway.Hestoppedtoexaminethebeansofarivalfarmer. “Thatsoil’snogood,”hesaid,shakinghishead.“Itdon’tpaytogrowbeansonapatchlikethat.” WhenhearrivedatBewlie’sFarm,Edwardcalledforthelabourerinchargeoftheinvalid. “Well,how’sshegoing?” “Sheain’tnobetter,squire.” “Badjob....HasThompsonbeentoseeherto-day?”Thompsonwasthevet. “‘Ecan’tmakenothin’ofit—’ethinksit’sahabscessshe’sgot,butIdon’tputmuchfaithinMisterThompson:’isfatherwasalabourersameasme,only’edidn’t’avetodowithfarming,bein’abricklayerandwot’issoncanknowaboutcattleisbeyondmealtogether.” “Well,let’sgoandlookather,”saidEdward. Hestrodeovertothebarn,followedbythelabourer.Thebeastwasstandinginonecorner,evenmoremeditativethanisusualwithcows,hangingherheadandhumpingherback.Sheseemedprofoundlypessimistic. “IshouldhavethoughtThompsoncoulddosomething,”saidEdward. “‘Esaysthebutcher’stheonlythingfor’er,”saidtheother,withgreatcontempt. Edwardsnortedindignantly.“Butcherindeed!I’dliketobutcherhimifIgotthechance.” Hewentintothefarmhouse,whichforyearshadbeenhishomebuthewasapractical,sensiblefellowanditbroughthimnomemories,noparticularemotion. “Well,Mrs.Jones,”hesaidtothetenant’swife.“How’syourself?” “Middlin’,sir.And’owareyouandMrs.Craddock?” “I’mallright—theMissusishavingababy,youknow.” Hespokeinthejovial,carelesswaywhichnecessarilyendearedhimtothewholeworld. “Blessmysoul,issheindeed,sir—andIknewyouwhenyouwasaboy!Whend’youexpectit?” “Iexpectiteveryminute.Why,forallIknow,ImaybeahappyfatherwhenIgetbacktotea.” “Youtakeitprettycool,governor,”saidFarmerJones,whohadknownEdwardinthedaysofhispoverty. “Me?”criedEdward,laughing.“Iknowallaboutthissortofthing,yousee.Why,lookatallthecalvesI’vehad—andmind