Page:The Tenant of Wildfell Hall (emended first edition), Volume 1.djvu/152

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THE TENANT

pockets, and then put it on (i.e. the coat). "Now come here you idle dog, and make yourself useful for once," I continued—"Pull off your coat, and take my place in the field till I come back."

"Till you come back?—and where are you going, pray?"

No matter—where—the when is all that concerns you;—and I shall be back by dinner, at least."

"Oh ho! and I'm to labour away till then, am I?—and to keep all these fellows hard at it besides—Well, well! I'll submit—for once in a way.—Come my lads, you must look sharp: I'm coming to help you now;—and wo be to that man, or woman either, that pauses for a moment amongst you—whether to stare about him, to scratch his head, or blow his nose—no pretext will serve—nothing but work, work, work in the sweat of your face,"—&c. &c.

Leaving him thus haranguing the people, more to their amusement than edification, I returned to the house, and having made som