Hannah grew irritated and anxious.

The receipts from this source were the largest they could reckon upon in the year.

But the fields on which the Yorkshire animals pastured were at some distance from the house; this department of the farm business was always left wholly to Reuben; and, with much grumbling and scolding, she took his word for it as to the probable lowness of the sum he should bring back.
David, meanwhile, was sometimes a good deal puzzled by Reuben's behaviour.

It seemed to him that his uncle told some queer tales at home about their summer stock.

And when Reuben announced his intention of going by himself to Woodhead, and leaving David at home, the boy was still more astonished.
However, he was glad enough to be spared the tramp with a set of people whose ways and talk were more and more uncongenial to him; and after his uncle's departure he lay for hours hidden from Louie among the heather, sometimes arguing out imaginary arguments with Mr.Dyson, sometimes going through passing thrills of emotion and fear.