Nidderdale drank and ate too much, and refused to be driven
beyond a certain amount of labour, but was in other respects
obedient and knew what he was about. Popplecourt was disagreeable,
but he was a fairly good shot and understood what was expected of
him. Silverbridge was so good-humoured, that even his manifest
faults,--shooting carelessly, lying in bed, and wanting his
dinner,--were, if not forgiven at least endured. But Tregear was an
abomination. He could shoot well enough and was active, and when
he was at the work seemed to like it;--but he would stay away whole
days by himself, and when spoken to would answer in a manner which
seemed to Dobbes to flat mutiny. 'We are not doing it for our
bread,' said Tregear.
'I don't know what you mean.'
'There's not a duty in killing a certain number of these animals.'
They had been driving deer on the day before and were to continue
the work on the day in question. 'I'm not paid fifteen shillings a
week for doing it.'
'I suppose if you undertake to do a thing you mean to do it. Of
course you're not wanted.
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