power.  Why, Carroll, Mr. Irwine’s butler, heard him say so to the parson not many days ago.  Carroll looked in when we were smoking our pipes o’ Saturday night at Casson’s, and he told us about it; and whenever anybody says a good word for you, the parson’s ready to back it, that I’ll answer for.  It was pretty well talked over, I can tell you, at Casson’s, and one and another had their fling at you; for if donkeys set to work to sing, you’re pretty sure what the tune’ll be.”

“Why, did they talk it over before Mr. Burge?” said Adam; “or wasn’t he there o’ Saturday?”

“Oh, he went away before Carroll came; and Casson—­he’s always for setting other folks right, you know—­would have it Burge was the man to have the management of the woods.  ‘A substantial man,’ says he, ’with pretty near sixty years’ experience o’ timber:  it ’ud be all very well for Adam Bede to act under him, but it isn’t to be supposed the squire ’ud appoint a young fellow like Adam, when there’s his elders and betters at hand!’ But I said, ‘That’s a pretty notion o’ yours, Casson.  Why, Burge is the man to buy timber; would you put the woods into his hands and let him make his own bargains?  I think you don’t leave your customers to score their own drink, do you?  And as for age, what that’s worth depends on the quality o’ the liquor.  It’s pretty well known who’s the backbone of Jonathan Burge’s business.’”

“I thank you for your good word, Mr. Massey,” said Adam.  “But, for all that, Casson was partly i’ the right for once.  There’s not much likelihood that th’ old squire ‘ud ever consent t’ employ me.  I offended him about two years ago, and he’s never forgiven me.”

“Why, how was that?  You never told me about it,” said Bartle.

“Oh, it was a bit o’ nonsense.  I’d made a frame for a screen for Miss Lyddy—­she’s allays making something with her worsted-work, you know—­and she’d given me particular orders about this screen, and there was as much talking and measuring as if we’d been planning a house.  However, it was a nice bit o’ work, and I liked doing it for her.  But, you know, those little friggling things take a deal o’ time.  I only worked at it in overhours—­often late at night—­and I had to go to Treddleston over an’ over again about little bits o’ brass nails and such gear; and I turned the little knobs and the legs, and carved th’ open work, after a pattern, as nice as could be.  And I was uncommon pleased with it when it was done.  And when I took it home, Miss Lyddy sent for me to bring it into her drawing-room, so as she might give me directions about fastening on the work—­very fine needlework, Jacob and Rachel a-kissing one another among the sheep, like a picture—­and th’ old squire was sitting there, for he mostly sits with her.  Well, she was mighty pleased with the screen, and then she wanted to know what pay she was to give me.  I didn’t speak at random—­you know it’s not my way; I’d calculated pretty