up his hoe again, he went back to the weeds that threatened his broad
beans. Now and again he stopped to listen, or to look at the sky, as is
the way of husbandmen, thinking of nothing, enjoying the peace of his
muscles.

"Please, sir, father's got into a fit again."

Two little girls were standing in the lane below. The elder, who had
spoken in that small, anxious voice, had a pale little face with pointed
chin; her hair, the color of over-ripe corn, hung fluffy on her thin
shoulders, her flower-like eyes, with something motherly in them
already, were the same hue as her pale-blue, almost clean, overall. She
had her smaller, chubbier sister by the hand, and, having delivered her
message, stood still, gazing up at Tod, as one might at God. Tod dropped
his hoe.

"Biddy come with me; Susie go and tell Mrs. Freeland, or Miss Sheila."

He took the frail little hand of the elder Tryst and ran. They ran at
the child's pace, the one so very massive, the other such a whiff of
flesh and blood.

"Did you come at once, Biddy?"

"Yes, sir."

"Where was he taken?"

"In the kitchen--just as I was cookin' breakfast."