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Show "I be right sorry, y'r grace," said old Shimu, HeadHerdsman of Needlesmith Hold. "We be all mindful of the need to keep our several tempers in the present circumstance, but his villainous Grace, the good Merchant Armand, has sore troubled us in our work all this last Se'enDay." At that he whipped off his soft cap and swallowed, and his partner, the good mother, Magri, began softly to weep. "And," he went on, "it being apparent to all that the circumstance is, as 'twere, here to s t a y . . . . " He swallowed again, then plunged on. "We had a most overlong counsel on the matter, and albeit that your good Doctorship has ever dealt uprightly with us, nevertheless we be of one mind." At that he ducked his head to compose himself. It had indeed been one of the longest speeches he'd ever uttered in the presence of the good Doctors of Needlesmith Hold in all of the seventy-five TwelveMonths he'd labored there. The group of Cottagers shuffled their feet behind him-they were all standing on the gallery along the east wall of Needesmith Hold-and Dr'Anya, her hands gripped together in front of her, was awaiting the worst. Indeed, she'd heard the story from Magri-that Shimu in a great fury had driven Armand out of the sheep shed after he'd brought in Hoqqam and had a carouse while the shepherds were helping the ewes in the lambing and a dear crop of triplets had died. Armand, in turn, had screamed back into the shed, allegedly shaking at them a shepherd's hook the whilst, that they all were to leave the Hold on the instant. Dr'Anya had rushed out immediately upon hearing this incredible story to beg old Shimu and his Cottager Yeofolk to stay. '"Tis impossible for us to stay, y'r Grace," said Shimu standing there humbly in front of her on the gallery; tears trembling in his eyes, "and 119 |