Looking on the ground, and planting his stick at each tread as if it were a flag-staff, he reached his own precincts, where, as he passed through the court, he automatically stopped to look at the men working in the shed and around.

One of them asked him a question about wagon-spokes.
"Hey ?" said Melbury, looking hard at him.

The man repeated the words.
Melbury stood; then turning suddenly away without answering, he went up the court and entered the house.

As time was no object with the journeymen, except as a thing to get past, they leisurely surveyed the door through which he had disappeared.
"What maggot has the gaffer got in his head now ?" said Tangs the elder.
"Sommit to do with that chiel of his! When you've got a maid of yer own, John Upjohn, that costs ye what she costs him, that will take the squeak out of your Sunday shoes, John! But you'll never be tall enough to accomplish such as she; and 'tis a lucky thing for ye, John, as things be.

Well, he ought to have a dozen--that would bring him to reason.