it's trouble is
my reward.«
    Esther had raised herself again, to stand in helpless endurance of whatever
might be coming. But by this time young Harry, struck even more than the dogs by
the appearance of Job Tudge, had come round dragging his chariot, and placed
himself close to the pale child, whom he exceeded in height and breadth, as well
as in depth of colouring. He looked into Job's eyes, peeped round at the tail of
his jacket and pulled it a little, and then, taking off the tiny cloth-cap,
observed with much interest the tight red curls which had been hidden underneath
it. Job looked at his inspector with the round blue eyes of astonishment, until
Harry, purely by way of experiment, took a bon-bon from a fantastic wallet which
hung over his shoulder, and applied the test to Job's lips. The result was
satisfactory to both. Every one had been watching this small comedy, and when
Job crunched the bon-bon while Harry looked down at him inquiringly and patted
his back, there was general laughter except on the part of Mrs Holt, who was
shaking her head slowly, and slapping the back of her left hand with the painful
patience of a tragedian whose part is in abeyance to an ill-timed introduction
of the humorous.
    »I hope Job's cough has been better lately,« said Esther, in mere
uncertainty as to what it would be desirable to say or do.
    »I daresay you hope so, Miss Lyon,« said Mrs Holt, looking at the distant
landscape. »I've no reason to disbelieve but what you wish well to the child,
and to Felix, and to me. I'm sure nobody has any occasion to wish me otherways.
My character will bear inquiry, and what you, as are young, don't know, others
can tell you. That was what I said to myself when I made up my mind to come here
and see you, and ask you to get me the freedom to speak to Mr Transome. I said,
whatever Miss Lyon may be now, in the way of being lifted up among great people,
she's our minister's daughter, and was not above coming to my house and walking
with my son Felix - though I'll not deny he made that figure on the Lord's Day,
that'll perhaps go against him with the judge, if anybody thinks well to tell
him.«
    Here Mrs Holt paused a moment, as with a mind arrested