So get off the pit-bank,
afore I drive thee off.'
'What's all this hullabaloo?' inquired Tim, making his appearance at the
cabin door. 'Why, Martha, what brings thee at the pit? Come in here, and
tell me what's up now.'
Tim listened to Martha's tearful story with great amazement and
indignation; and, after a few minutes' consideration, he told her he had
nothing much to do, and he would get leave to take Stephen's place for
the rest of the day, so as to set him free to go home at once. He left
her standing in the middle of the cabin, for the rough benches round it
looked too black for her to venture to take a seat upon them; and in a
short time he shouted to her from a skep, which was being lowered into
the pit, promising her that Stephen should come up as soon as possible.
It seemed a terribly long time to wait amid that noise and dust, and
every now and then Black Bess relieved her feelings by making hideous
grimaces at her when she passed the cabin door; but Stephen ascended at
last, very stern-looking and silent, for Tim had told him Martha's
business; and he hurried her away from the pit-bank before he would
listen to the detailed account she was longing to give.
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