` Clank ! ' went the press , and rammed the loose stuff into tight cake . ` Gently ! ' they heard Hobden cry . ` You 'll bust her crop if you lay on so . You be as careless as Gleason 's bull , Tom . Come an ' sit by the fires . She 'll do now . ' They came down , and as Hobden opened the shutter to see if the potatoes were done Tom Shoesmith said to the children , ` Put a plenty salt on 'em . That 'll show you the sort o ' man I be . ' Again he winked , and again the Bee Boy laughed and Una stared at Dan . ' I know what sort o ' man you be , ' old Hobden grunted , groping for the potatoes round the fire . ` Do ye ? ' Tom went on behind his back . ` Some of us ca n't abide Horseshoes , or Church Bells , or Running Water ; an ' , talkin ' o ' runnin ' water ' -- he turned to Hobden , who was backing out of the roundel -- 'd ` you mind the great floods at Robertsbridge , when the miller 's man was drowned in the street ? ' ` Middlin ' well . ' Old Hobden let himself down on the coals by the fire-door . ' I was courtin ' my woman on the Marsh that year . Carter to Mus ' Plum I was , gettin ' ten shillin 's week . Mine was a Marsh woman . '
` Won ` erful odd-gates place -- Romney XXXXX , ' said Tom Shoesmith .
Boy Gleason Marsh Middlin Robertsbridge Shoesmith drowned fire runnin year