This duty he performed with such minute attention that the overseer privately wondered whatever was the matter with "Master John," but soon settled the question, by a decision that "he hed been worried by his wife a bit, and it hed put him all out of gear, and no wonder." For Greenwood had had his own experiences of this kind and had suffered many things in consequence of them.

So he was sorry for John as he told himself that "whether married men were rich or poor, things were pretty equal for them." Just as the two men parted, Jonathan said, in a kind of afterthought way, "There's a full meeting of the Gentlemen's Club tonight, sir.

I suppose you know." "Certainly, but how is it _you_ know ?" "You may well ask that, sir.

I am truly nobbut one o' John Hatton's overseers, but I hev a son who has married into a landed family, and he told me that some of the old quality were going to propose his father-in-law for membership tonight.

I promised my Ben I would ask your vote in Master Akers' favor." "Akers has bought a deal of land lately, I hear." "Most of the old Akers' Manor back, and there are those who think he ought to be recognized.