WHEN Mark Tilling looked along the straight furrows he had ploughed , another picture rose before his mind a picture of himself and his little sweetheart , Peggy Joyner , ploughing the great field .sx of life in loving harness together .sx Peggy's mother , who owned the little laundry in the village of Fisherswell , embittered by her own hard life , would have preferred her daughter to marry Dan Acorn , the loafing son of wealthy Farmer Acorn of Four Trees Farm , who employed Mark , but Dan , though secretly admiring Peggy , was outwardly attentive to Myra Stuart , the haughty , selfish daughter of Ben Stuart of the Windmill Inn , and so , finally repulsed by Peggy , he asked Myra to marry him .sx Meanwhile , Farmer Acorn , disappointed at his son's shiftless ways , which compared so unfavourably beside Mark , offered .sx to give his ploughman the bricks with which to build another room on to his cottage in order that he might ask Peggy to marry him sooner .sx Peggy and Mark were overjoyed at the farmer's generosity , and when Peggy told her mother that Mark wanted her to live with them in the divided new room he was building , Mrs. Joyner's heart was softened at last , and she raised no further objection to their marriage , which took place quite shortly after Dan's and Myra's .sx Peggy and Mark were very happy , but this was not the case with Dan and Myra , who , by the end of their honeymoon , had started a life of bitter quarrelling .sx Meantime Farmer Acorn had left the farmhouse and gone to live alone in a cottage nearby .sx Unable to get help at the farm , Myra made a great fuss because Peggy could not work for her , and so satisfy her secret desire to humiliate Mark's wife .sx In an attempt to pacify her , therefore , Dan set out to persuade Peggy , but on entering the cottage garden the contrast between his own unhappy life and Mark's and Peggy's happiness fired his jealousy .sx " I WANT a word with you , Mark !sx " The jealous rage which burned in Dan's heart made it difficult for him to speak calmly .sx Why should there be this air of quiet peace and love about the ploughman's cottage , while his own home was the scene of endless discord ?sx " Is that you , Mr. Dan ?sx " asked Mark pleasantly .sx " Come in , sir , and sit down .sx " There was only one chair in the garden , and Peggy was sitting in that , but she rose to her feet smilingly while Mark went indoors to fetch another .sx " Please sit down , Mr. Dan , " Peggy said sweetly .sx " I don't want to disturb you , " Dan muttered , but Mark came out with a second seat before he could say any more .sx " You won't be disturbing Peggy , " Mark told him .sx " Sit in this one , Mr. Dan .sx Where's your pipe ?sx " .sx The friendly , unaffected air of welcome made Dan feel ashamed , but did not restore his good humour .sx He took out his pipe , but , when Mark offered his tobacco tin , he waved it aside rudely , as if Mark's tobacco might not be good enough for his gentlemanly taste .sx " I'm a bit put out , Tilling , and I may as well be plain , " he said sullenly .sx " You've made trouble between me and my wife .sx " .sx " I have ?sx " said Mark in astonishment .sx " Well , you and yours , " grumbled Dan .sx " When my wife came round , asking Peggy quite civilly to help her with the work up at Four Trees Farm , seeing we are short-handed , she got short answers , and it looks as if you'd made up your mind to be disobliging .sx " Peggy looked up at Mark as if she wanted to say something , but he seemed to make a signal for silence .sx " There's only one thing I've made up my mind about , Mr. Dan , and that is to be as obliging to all my neighbours , rich and poor , as I can , " Mark said slowly .sx " And I'm thinking Peggy .sx feels the same , " he added .sx " Is that right , dear heart ?sx " .sx " Oh , yes , Mark !sx " replied Peggy quickly .sx " Besides , I'm afraid Mr. Dan .sx doesn't know how busy I was " 'She broke off , as Mark held up his hand .sx " Wait a bit , my love , " he said quietly :sx " There's something else Mr. Dan must understand before we come to that .sx Do you really think your good lady asked Peggy civilly ?sx " he inquired .sx " Are you trying to make out my wife's .sx been untruthful ?sx " Dan asked angrily .sx Peggy saw the angry fire gathering in .sx the men's oyes , and was afraid they would quarrel .sx Or , rather , that Dan would say one word more than Mark could put up with , and be thrown headlong out of the garden for his pains !sx Anxiously , therefore , she stepped forward in front of Mark .sx " You must let me talk , Mark , " she said , and the look in her eyes was a prayer for peace which Mark understood .sx " We three , and Myra , too , were children together , and there must be no quarrelling .sx Dan , dear I shall no longer call you ' mister ' do you remember what friends we used to be once ?sx I'm afraid Myra was a little angry when she came to sea me , and she didn't speak at all nicely .sx I was too busy that morning to help her , but I've been thinking it over since , and I believe I could go to Four Trees if Myra would like to have me for two mornings a week .sx " " If you could do that " began Dan , and his handsome face flushed with relief .sx Myra was obsessed with the idea of compelling Peggy to work for her , and he knew there was no hope of peace for him until it was settled .sx " 1 should be so grateful to you , Peggy , " he added .sx Peggy smiled to herself , for she saw the meaning of this more clearly than either of the men .sx Myra was jealous and vindictive ; she was bent on humiliating Mark Tilling's wife , and Myra's husband was not man enough to hold his own with her .sx However , Mark did not like this arrangement .sx " I think , dear heart , we had better take time to think this over before anything is settled , " he remarked .sx " You already have work in plenty to do , and I don't want you to be driven .sx " " Mark , dear , I'd rather consider it settled , " said Peggy firmly .sx " You may tell Mrs. Acorn , Dan , that I can come to her Tuesday and Friday mornings from half-past eight till half-past twelve , and I shall expect her to pay me half a crown a morning .sx We'd best be businesslike ; then there won't be room for misunderstanding .sx " Mark smiled at his little wife's unexpected decision , and Dan took himself off looking a good deal better pleased than when he arrived .sx " I don't like your going to work at Four Trees , love , " said Mark , when they were alone .sx " I'm thinking Myra won't be a kind mistress .sx " Peggy knew he was right , but she said nothing of her thoughts to Mark .sx " It's best to be obliging to folk , " she said with a smile , and began to gather up her work ready to go indoors .sx " I lay you were thinking about the five shillings a week , and starting to save the nest-egg you were talking about the other day !sx " said Mark playfully .sx " But money isn't everything , my love , and " .sx " No .sx Mark , it isn't the money I want , " Peggy told him softly .sx " It's all working ' together,' I'm thinking about !sx " .sx There was a half-mischievous smile on Peggy's face as she tucked one arm in Mark's and carried her work-basket under the other .sx " I'm going to work for Myra for your sake , Mark , " she went on .sx " You can't work at Four Trees happily if you are on bad terms with the master , and Dan will be master hero some day in fact , he is nearly master now .sx So I shall help Myra , and then perhaps she and Dan will be happier together , because she won't have a grievance .sx And if Myra's happier , she will be kinder , and that will be nice for all of us .sx " They were inside the cottage by this time , and Mark laughed , and took his wife into his arms and laid his cheek against her golden head .sx " She's a wise little woman !sx " he said tenderly .sx " She's wiser than I am .sx But , Peg-o'-my-heart , if you are not happy with Myra you must tell me .sx Four Trees is not the only farm in Sussex .sx There's many a farmer in the Weald will give me a job , and I'd sooner up and away than see you unhappy !sx " .sx Peggy smiled at him in the darkness , and he knew she was smiling , for , although they had not lighted the lamp , his cheek was so near to hers he felt her lips move .sx " I am the happiest girl in the world !sx " she whispered softly , .sx Ben Stuart Meets With a Rebuff .sx BEFORE leaving the Windmill Inn , Ben Stuart made sure his wife was hard at work , and when he saw she was on her knees , scrubbing out the bar , he grinned with satisfaction .sx Then he looked round the petrol station , and watched his man , Matt Jones , serve a passing car with petrol .sx Ben grinned unpleasantly when he saw the motorist pay for four gallons , though he had received only three and a half .sx Finally , he went across the road to the new laundry to see how the building operations were progressing .sx The place was almost ready for the workers now , and Ben was counting on being in full swing within a month .sx With a scowl on his face , he stood there jingling some coins in his pocket .sx The arrangement he had made with James Acorn was that the owner of Four Trees Farm supplied the land while Ben provided the cash for building .sx But the cost of building was more than he expected , and he was beginning to wish he could wriggle himself Into a snugger position .sx Thoughtfully he set off for Four Trees Farm .sx He would have a talk with Myra , he told himself , but on his way up through the village , he met James Acorn himself .sx " I'll be glad to have a word with you , farmer , " Ben said sulkily .sx " Things are going crooked !sx " .sx " Are they ?sx I wonder if things are half as crooked as the men who make them !sx " said Dan's father grimly , and the innkeeper looked at him in injured surprise .sx It needed a good man to get the upper hand with the master of Four Trees Farm , but Ben Stuart was going to try .sx It was a long story , and it took a long time to tell , but the outcome was that James Acorn ought to let Ben Stuart have some cash towards the cost of building the laundry .sx " It's only fair , " grumbled Ben .sx " Maybe you're right .sx It's only fair , " said old Farmer Acorn , and Ben looked at him almost in alarm , for he had not expected such a tame answer .sx " How much cash will you be wanting ?sx " asked Farmer Acorn .sx " Would five hundred pounds be enough ?sx " .sx " Five hundred pounds would carry me over nicely , " admitted Ben , secretly surprised at the extent of the offer , but meaning to get all he could .sx " Then I must let you have it , " said Farmer Acorn calmly .sx He paused , as if to give Ben time to take breath .sx " Leastways , I'll let you have it providing you treat me similar !sx " .sx " What do you mean ?sx I don't understand , " said Ben , puzzled .sx " If you'll give me five hundred pounds towards the cost of my land , I'll give you five hundred pounds towards the cost of your building !sx " said James Acorn slowly .sx " That'll make us just about level , I'm thinking .sx Good-morning !sx " .sx The farmer strode away then , and Ben Stuart stood there shaking with rage at the clever way Farmer Acorn had got the better of him .sx " The old toad !sx " he muttered .sx " I might have known he wouldn't part with a crooked sixpence .sx " On reaching the farmhouse , Stuart marched into the dining-room and found his daughter eating her mid-morning meal .sx At eleven o'clock she needed bread-and-cheese and cider to keep her going , she said , though it did not seem as if she had done much .sx