Chapter I: Front Matter

THE LONELY PLOUGH

_THE MORNING POST says: “Messrs. Mills & Boon seem to have acquired a monopoly in clever first Novels.” T.P.’s WEEKLY says: “Readers have got into the habit of looking to the publications of Mills & Boon for freshness, originality, and the novelty of surprise.”_

Mills & Boon’s New Novels

_Crown 8vo. 6s. each._

=JOHN BARLEYCORN= JACK LONDON
=THE TEMPLE OF DAWN= I. A. R. WYLIE
=BREADANDBUTTERFLIES= DION CLAYTON CALTHROP
=THE PLAYGROUND= Author of “Mastering Flame”
=ANDREW AND HIS WIFE= THOMAS COBB
=LITTLE FAITHFUL= BEULAH MARIE DIX
=JETSAM= VICTOR BRIDGES
=PATIENCE TABERNACLE= SOPHIE COLE
=THE WEB OF LIFE= (New Edit.) ROBERT HERRICK
=GRIZEL MARRIED= MRS. G. DE HORNE VAIZEY
=THE LONELY PLOUGH= CONSTANCE HOLME
=THE PRIDE OF THE FANCY= GEORGE EDGAR
=SHOP GIRLS= ARTHUR APPLIN
=BURNT FLAX= MRS. H. H. PENROSE
=AN ABSENT HERO= MRS. FRED REYNOLDS
=HER LAST APPEARANCE= A. NUGENT ROBERTSON
=ENTERTAINING JANE= MILLICENT HEATHCOTE
=THE PROGRESS OF PRUDENCE= W. F. HEWER
=THE MAGIC TALE OF HARVANGER AND YOLANDE= G. P. BAKER
=THE PLUNDERER= ROY NORTON
=KICKS AND HA’PENCE= HENRY STACE
=HAPPY EVER AFTER= R. ALLATINI
=SARAH EDEN= E. S. STEVENS
=GAY MORNING= J. E. BUCKROSE
=COPHETUA’S SON= JOAN SUTHERLAND
=THE RELATIONS AND WHAT THEY RELATED= MRS. BAILLIE REYNOLDS
=HIS GREAT ADVENTURE= ROBERT HERRICK
=ONE MAN RETURNS= HAROLD SPENDER
=THE MUSIC MAKERS= LOUISE MACK

THE
LONELY PLOUGH

BY
CONSTANCE HOLME
AUTHOR OF “CRUMP FOLK GOING HOME”

“It is always one man’s work--always and everywhere.”

KIPLING.

MILLS & BOON, LIMITED
49 RUPERT STREET
LONDON, W.

_Published 1914_

TO

THE PEACE-RULERS

CONTENTS

CHAP. PAGE

I ACROSS THE DUB 1

II THE GREEN GATES OF VISION:--I. DUSK 12

III TROUBLE 26

IV THE TROUBLE SHAPING 42

V THE TOOL 50

VI HAMER’S HUT 54

VII THE TROUBLE COMING.--THE GREEN GATES OF
VISION:--II. MORNING 63

VIII NEW WINE IN OLD BOTTLES 77

IX THE UPPER AND THE NETHER STONES 89

X TERROR BY NIGHT 102

XI THE TROUBLE COMING.--THE GREEN GATES OF
VISION:--III. MOONLIGHT 106

XII THE REAL THINGS 122

XIII HAMER’S FIRST TRAM 137

XIV THE OLD ORDER 150

XV THE BEGINNING OF THE END 175

XVI SPURS TO GLORY 184

XVII THE GREEN GATES OF VISION:--IV. DARK--THE
LONELY PLOUGH 196

XVIII HAMER’S SECOND TRAM 203

XIX UNDER THE JUNIPER-TREE 216

XX WIGGIE’S FIVE MINUTES 232

XXI THE TROUBLE COMING 256

XXII COMING 266

XXIII COME. THE GREEN GATES OF VISION:--V. THE
OUTER DARK 275

XXIV MOTHERING SUNDAY 296

XXV ONE MAN’S WORK 297

XXVI HIS SILLY HOME 306

XXVII THE GREEN GATES OF VISION:--VI. SWEETHEART-TIME 325

XXVIII HAIL AND FAREWELL! 344

THE LONELY PLOUGH