"I was much concerned about her illness in church yesterday," he
remarked, turning to the miller.
"I didn't know she was up," replied Abel, observing the inflamed and
swollen state of her features, which had apparently escaped the notice
of Mr. Mullen. "Oughtn't you to have stayed in bed, Judy?" he asked
kindly.
"Oh, no, I'd rather be about," responded Judy hurriedly. "I came over
from the house with a message for you when I saw Mr. Mullen passin'."
"I am trying a young horse of Jim Halloween's," said the clergyman, "my
bay has gone lame, and Jim offered me this one for the day. Badly broken
and needs a firm bit. I'm inclined to believe that he has never been
put between shafts before, for I had quite a sharp tussle with him about
passing that threshing machine in Bumpass's field."
"Oh, that roans all right if you don't fret him," replied Abel, who had
a poor opinion of the rector's horsemanship. "Stop jerking at his mouth,
and give him his head."
But the Reverend Orlando, having drifted naturally into the habit
of thinking that he had been placed here to offer, not to receive,
instruction, appeared a little restive under the other's directions.
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