“Come along with me,” said the Lensmand abruptly. He led me round the
house and into the kitchen.
“Give this man a thorough good meal--he's come a long way, and....”
I sat down in the big, well-lighted kitchen to the best meal I had had
for a long time. I had just finished when the Lensmand came out again.
“Look here, you....” he began.
I got up at once and stood straight as an arrow--a piece of politeness
which I fancy was not lost on him.
“No, no, finish your meal, go on. Finished? Sure? Well, I've been
thinking.... Come along with me.”
He took me out to the woodshed.
“You might do a bit of work getting in firewood; what do you say to
that? I've two men on the place, but one of them I shall want for
summoners' work, so you'll have to go woodcutting with the other. You
can see there's plenty of wood here as it is, but it'll take no harm
lying here, can't have too much of that sort of thing. You said you had
money; let me see.”