But now let us hear from Uncle Reuben what he would have us do to remove this disgrace from amongst us, and to satisfy him of his goods.' 'I care not for my goods, woman,' Master Huckaback answered grandly; 'although they were of large value, about them I say nothing.

But what I demand is this, the punishment of those scoundrels.' 'Zober, man, zober!' cried Farmer Nicholas; 'we be too naigh Badgery 'ood, to spake like that of they Dooneses.' 'Pack of cowards!' said Uncle Reuben, looking first at the door, however; 'much chance I see of getting redress from the valour of this Exmoor! And you, Master Snowe, the very man whom I looked to to raise the country, and take the lead as churchwarden--why, my youngest shopman would match his ell against you.

Pack of cowards,' cried Uncle Ben, rising and shaking his lappets at us; 'don't pretend to answer me.

Shake you all off, that I do--nothing more to do with you!' We knew it useless to answer him, and conveyed our knowledge to one another, without anything to vex him.

However, when the mulled wine was come, and a good deal of it gone (the season being Epiphany), Uncle Reuben began to think that he might have been too hard with us.
Moreover, he was beginning now to respect Farmer Nicholas bravely, because of the way he had smoked his pipes, and the little noise made over them.