The Vicar of Bullhampton

church precincts, as it came at once upon a public footway leading from the fields through the churchyard to the town. There was, of course, no stopping the public path, but Fenw

e of the man, the face was invisible to him. But he knew the fellow to be a stranger to Bullhampton. The dress was strange, the manner was strange, and the mode of standing was strange. Gilmore had lived at Bullhampton all his life, and, without much thought on the subject, knew Bullhampton ways. The jacket which the man wore was a town-made jacket, a jacket that had come farther a-field even than Salisbury; and the man's gaiters had a savour which was decidedly not of Wiltshire. Dark as it was, he could see so much as this. "Good night, my friend," said Gilmore, in a sharp cheery voice. The man muttered something, and passed on as though to the village. There had, however, been something in his positi

athway through pasture is a nuisance, as it is impossible to induce those who use it to keep themselves to one beaten track; but a pathway through cornfields is worse, for, let what pains may be taken, wheat, beans, and barley will be torn down and trampled under foot. And yet in apportioning his rents, no landlor

said the voice

,-Mr. Gilmore. I want to get round

ming forward and opening the gate. "B

. Speak softly. I fancy there a

d 'un." Bone'm was the name of the bull-dog as to which Gilmore had been sol

I'll just move round to the front. Do

h for 'em, bugglars and all." Then he led Mr. Gilmore through the farmyar

round into the garden; but he thought it better to go to the front door. There was no light to be seen from the windows; but almost all the roo

said th

that you? Wh

wo men hanging about your gate in the church

hing. They often s

s a stranger, and just the sort of man who won't do your paris

," said t

rly to the dogs,"

him in his father's presence last week, and he followed me afterwards, and told me he'd se

ut of the place,-th

elsewhere than here. I suppose Mr. S

ellow, I shouldn't think they mean

hey do, but I'll b

tay with y

, and you can pass home that way. The chances are they'll mizzle away to bed, as they'

n the two friends went round by the kitchen garden, and so through to the orchard, and down to the churchyard gate. Hitherto they

come back,"

if they do,"

st three? You had

would be quite as rational to propose

e Squire, with a min

armed about us,"

hould happen t

ditional feeling on the score of Janet and the children. But I'll do my best. If the wom

the ruffians would have been greatly increased. Standing where he was he would probably be able to interrupt them, should they attempt to enter the house; but in the mean time they might be stripping his fruit from the wall. They were certainly, at present, in the kitchen garden, and he was not minded to leave them there at such work as they might have in hand. Having paused to think of this, he crept along under the wall, close to the house, towards the passage by which he could reach them. But they had not heard him, nor had they waited among the fruit. When he was near the corner of the wall, one leading man came round within a foot or two of the spot on which he stood; and, before he could decide on what he would do, the second had appeared. He rushed forward with the loaded stick in his hand,

d with his short breath, "if you don't stan

to seize the weapon, and the parso

at anyway, Mr. Fen

I'll smash something else. I'll hit you on the head i

ing him the while by the neck of his jacket, and swinging the life-preserver in his right hand. In th

you should be at

rk is it

after midnight, with a cou

much harm in tha

e the me

as the

ho were

u've got me, and you've smashed my arm, and now what is it you're a-go

rattle, the father, was not so great a favourite, and was a man whom the Squire, his landlord, held in great disfavour, Mr. Fenwick would desire, if possible, to spare the family. And of Sam, himself, he had had high hopes, though those hopes, for the last eighteen months had been becoming fainter and fainter. Upon the

n, nor no cutting of throats,

ith yourself, to-nig

her's, sir; not a fo

o the doctor, if I am not very much mistaken; for the rap

can tell ye;-but

s;-as far as I can see, you're on the road to the gallows. It isn't pleasant to be hung, and I would advise you

r me, to-morrow, parson

your mother

k, and nobody shan't ever come anigh this plac

now that the thing I want to save is you,-you,-you; you helpless, idle, good-for-nothing reprobate? Go home, and be sure that I s

gate, he returned to the house, and found that his wife, w

htened me so terribly

ve about split one fellow's back.

rth do you

up to him; how he had gone out and had a tussle with one man, whom he had, as

n our beds, then

ubt whether the melons and peaches are safe. The truth is, there ought to be a gardener's cottage on the

Fra

han a pistol, but I really think it's worse. I might have murdered

came of the

t him

oing anyth

e got a

ou kno

knew him

as he,

moment, and then he answer

tle, comi

I fear, for mont

t shall

are stiff-necked, obstinate, ill-conditioned people-that is, the men. But I think Gilmore has been