You've heard about it, then ?' The choir knew no particulars--only that he had shot himself in his apple- closet on the previous Sunday.

'Nobody seem'th to know what 'a did it for, 'a b'lieve?
Leastwise, we don't know at Chalk-Newton,' continued Lot.
'O yes.

It all came out at the inquest.' The singers drew close, and the Sidlinch men, pausing to rest after their labours, told the story.

'It was all owing to that son of his, poor old man.

It broke his heart.' 'But the son is a soldier, surely; now with his regiment in the East Indies ?' 'Ay.