“Why, Polly, you are as good as the minister, and so, as I’ve had my Sunday-morning sermon early today, you may go and tell Dinah that I’ll be ready for her as the clock strikes ten; but stop⁠—just step round to butcher Braydon’s with my compliments, and ask him if he would lend me his light trap; I know he never uses it on the Sunday, and it would make a wonderful difference to the horse.”

Away she went, and soon returned, saying that he could have the trap and welcome.

“All right,” said he, “now put me up a bit of bread and cheese, and I’ll be back in the afternoon as soon as I can.”

“And I’ll have the meat pie ready for an early tea instead of for dinner,” said Polly; and away she went, while he made his preparations to the tune of “Polly’s the woman and no mistake,” of which tune he was very fond.