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Spectrum Grade 4 Critical Thinking for

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4

GRADE 4
®
GRADE
®

Critical Thinking for Math


Supporting your child’s educational journey every step of the way. Critical Thinking
Spectrum® provides specific support in the skills and standards that
your child is learning in today’s classroom.

• Comprehensive, grade-specific titles to prepare for the year ahead


for Math

SPECTRUM Critical Thinking for Math


• Subject-specific practice to reinforce classroom learning
• Skill-specific titles to enrich and enhance educational concepts
• Test preparation titles to support test-taking skills

No matter your need, Spectrum is with you every step of the way.
Spectrum is available in these titles for fourth grade success:

Strategies and Activities


to Extend Mathematical
Understanding

• Multiplying and dividing


Other titles available:
• Fractions and decimals
Division Multiplication
• Measurement conversions

• Classifying geometric figures

• Measuring angles

• Answer key

carsondellosa.com
carsondellosa.com/spectrum

705116 CO 4.indd 1 4/1/20 11:00 AM


704489 CO 3.indd 2 4/1/20 10:16 AM
Critical Thinking
for Math

Grade 4

Published by Spectrum®
an imprint of Carson Dellosa Education
Greensboro, NC

705116 INT 4.indd 1 4/6/20 2:50 PM


Spectrum®
An imprint of Carson Dellosa Education
P.O. Box 35665
Greensboro, NC 27425 USA

© 2017 Carson Dellosa Education. Except as permitted under the United States Copyright Act, no part of this
publication may be reproduced, stored, or distributed in any form or by any means (mechanically, electronically,
recording, etc.) without the prior written consent of Carson Dellosa Education. Spectrum® is an imprint of
Carson Dellosa Education.

705116 INT 4.indd 2 4/6/20 12:13 PM


Table of Contents Grade 4

Chapter 1: Adding and Subtracting Through 5-Digit Numbers


Check What You Know. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Lessons 1–7. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6–21
Check What You Learned. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22

Chapter 2: Numeration
Check What You Know. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
Lessons 1–4. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25–30
Check What You Learned. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31

Chapter 3: Multiplication and Division


Check What You Know. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
Lessons 1–14. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34–48
Check What You Learned. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49

Chapters 1–3 Mid-Test. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51

Chapter 4: Fractions and Decimals


Check What You Know. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55
Lessons 1–10. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57–68
Check What You Learned. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69

Chapter 5: Measurement
Check What You Know. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71
Lessons 1–11. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73–83
Check What You Learned. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 84

Chapter 6: Geometry
Check What You Know. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 86
Lessons 1–6. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 87–93
Check What You Learned. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 94

Chapters 1–6 Final Test. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 95

Answer Key . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 101

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NAME _________________________________________________________________________________

Check What You Know


CHAPTER 1 PRETEST

Adding and Subtracting Through 5-Digit Numbers

Draw a model to find the missing number.

1. _______ + 117 = 310

Draw a number line to find the missing number.

2. _______ + 15,978 = 30,583

3. Audrey works at a garden shop. This year, she sold 2,429 seed packs, 1,339
indoor plants, and 2,117 outdoor plants. How many items did Audrey sell in all?
Use the partition method to show your work.

Spectrum Critical Thinking for Math Chapter 1


Grade 4 Check What You Know
4

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NAME _________________________________________________________________________________

Check What You Know

CHAPTER 1 PRETEST
Adding and Subtracting Through 5-Digit Numbers

Draw a model to find the missing number.

4. _______ – 364 = 524

Draw a number line to find the missing number.

5. 47,893 – _______ = 2,096

6. A baseball team gave away free hats to some of the fans that attended the game.
There were 13,786 people at the game, and 2,959 fans did not get hats. How
many fans did get hats?

7. At the same baseball game, the concession stand sold 1,245 hot dogs, 2,974
orders of nachos, and 3,945 ice cream sandwiches. How many total food items
did the concession stand sell?

Spectrum Critical Thinking for Math Chapter 1


Grade 4 Check What You Know
5

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NAME _________________________________________________________________________________

Lesson 1.1 Addition and Subtraction in the Real World

Jackie has 46 stamps in her collection, and Irene has 23 stamps. How many
stamps do Jackie and Irene have altogether? Jackie will get 10 more stamps
for her birthday. How many stamps will Jackie and Irene have after Jackie’s
birthday?

First, add what Jackie and Irene have now: 46 + 23 = 69


Then, add the 10 stamps that Jackie will get for her birthday: 69 + 10 = 79

Jackie and Irene will have 79 stamps altogether after Jackie’s birthday.

Solve. Write the addition or subtraction sentences you used.

Yuri’s soccer team is in the State Cup Tournament. There were 78 goals made in the
entire tournament. Yuri’s team made 29 of the goals. How many goals did the other
teams make?

Elena’s team scored 16 goals in the tournament. How many goals did Yuri’s team
and Elena’s team score altogether?

Spectrum Critical Thinking for Math  Lesson 1.1


Grade 4 Addition and Subtraction in the Real World
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NAME _________________________________________________________________________________

Lesson 1.2 Finding Unknowns

To find an unknown addend in an addition problem, subtract the given numbers.


7 11
52 + ? = 81 81 52 + 29 = 81
– 52
29

Find the unknown value. Write the subtraction problem you used.

_______ + 448 = 984 4,251 + _______ = 9,870

Adrian had 155 marbles. Her friend Beth also had some marbles. Together, Adrian
and Beth had 481 marbles. How many marbles did Beth have? How many would
they have if Adrian found 5 more marbles?

Spectrum Critical Thinking for Math Lesson 1.2


Grade 4 Finding Unknowns
7

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NAME _________________________________________________________________________________

Lesson 1.2 Finding Unknowns

To find an unknown subtrahend 6 15

in a subtraction problem,
minuend 175 175
subtrahend – ? – 38 175 – 137 = 38
subtract the given numbers.
difference 38 137
1
To find an unknown minuend
minuend ? 115 132 – 17 = 115
in a subtraction problem, subtrahend – 17 + 17
add the given numbers.
difference 115 132

Solve to find the unknown value.

6,255 – _______ = 2,513 _______ – 329 = 171

Bobbi saved some money from doing chores. He bought a computer game that cost
$28. Now, Bobbi has $70 left. How much money did Bobbi have to begin with?

Does Bobbi have enough money left over to buy a new pair of sneakers that costs
$35 and a hat that costs $27?

Spectrum Critical Thinking for Math Lesson 1.2


Grade 4 Finding Unknowns
8

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NAME _________________________________________________________________________________

Lesson 1.2 Finding Unknowns

You can use subtraction to find an unknown when adding three or more numbers.

1 + ? + 9 + 7 = 22

First, add the addends that are given: 1 + 9 + 7 = 17


Then, subtract: 22 – 17 = 5
1 + 5 + 9 + 7 = 22

Solve to find the unknown value. Write the addition and subtraction sentences
you used.

_______ + 113 + 209 + 102 = 589

Three friends had a picnic in the park. They each brought some fruit for dessert.
One friend brought 6 bananas, one friend brought some pineapples, and one friend
brought 4 apples. Altogether, the three friends had 12 pieces of fruit. How many
pineapples were there?

If a fourth friend joins them and brings 5 peaches, how many pieces of fruit will
there be altogether?

Spectrum Critical Thinking for Math Lesson 1.2


Grade 4 Finding Unknowns
9

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NAME _________________________________________________________________________________

Lesson 1.3 Adding 3 or More Numbers

You can use a number line when adding three or more numbers.
87 + 78 + _______ = 206

1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1
10 10 10 10 10 10 10
87 165
1
10 10 10 10
165 206
206 – 165 = _______

87 + 78 + 41 = 206

Use a number line to solve.

315 + 173 + _______ + 166 = 854

Connor, Drew, and Jason are comparing their baseball card collections. Connor has
48 cards and Drew has 68 cards. Jason also has some cards. Together, the boys
have 194 baseball cards. How many does Jason have?

Jeremy joins them. He has 18 baseball cards in his collection. How many cards do
the boys have with Jeremy’s collection?

Spectrum Critical Thinking for Math  Lesson 1.3


Grade 4 Adding 3 or More Numbers
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NAME _________________________________________________________________________________

Lesson 1.4 Finding Unknowns

You can write a number sentence based on a completed number line.


71

1
10 10 10 10 10 10 10
67 138

138 – 71 = 67 67 + 71 = 138

Write the correct addition and subtraction sentence for each number line given.
__________

1 1 1 1 1
10 10 10 10 10
__________ 651

________ – ________ = ________ ________ + ________ = ________

__________

1 1 1 1 1
100 1,000 1,000 1,000
__________ 3,475

________ – ________ = ________ ________ + ________ = ________

__________

1 1 10 10 10
100 100 100 1,000
__________ 57,291

__________ – _________ = __________ __________ + _________ = __________


Spectrum Critical Thinking for Math Lesson 1.4
Grade 4 Finding Unknowns
11

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NAME _________________________________________________________________________________

Lesson 1.4 Finding Unknowns

You can use a number line to find unknown addends in an addition problem.

148 + ? = 464

Using tens and ones, count backward to the amount of the given addend.
148

1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1
10 10 10 10 100
316 464

148 + 316 = 464

Subtract to find the missing addend. Use a number line to show your thinking.

_______ + 247 = 750

3,482 + _______ = 6,589

_______ + 18,805 = 51,510

Spectrum Critical Thinking for Math Lesson 1.4


Grade 4 Finding Unknowns
12

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NAME _________________________________________________________________________________

Lesson 1.4 Finding Unknowns

To find an unknown value in a subtraction problem, you can draw a picture.

7,198 – _______ = 5,806

Trade 1 thousand for 10 hundreds and subtract 800:

trade

7,198 – 5,806 = 1,392 ; 7,198 – 1,392 = 5,806

Solve to find the unknown. Draw a picture to show your thinking.

3,700 – _______ = 1,553

Spectrum Critical Thinking for Math Lesson 1.4


Grade 4 Finding Unknowns
13

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NAME _________________________________________________________________________________

Lesson 1.4 Finding Unknowns

To find an unknown value when adding numbers, you can draw a picture.

4,909 + _______ = 6,989

6,989 – 4,909 = 2,080

4,909 + 2,080 = 6,989

Solve. Draw a picture to show your thinking.

_______ + 10,336 = 12,784

Spectrum Critical Thinking for Math Lesson 1.4


Grade 4 Finding Unknowns
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NAME _________________________________________________________________________________

Lesson 1.4 Finding Unknowns


Solve the problems.

Draw a picture to show your work.


9,341 – _______ = 6,007

At the state fair, the candy booth had a swimming pool filled with chocolate-covered
candies and fruit-flavored candies. A total of 88,547 candies were in the pool. At
the end of the weekend, there were only 7,856 candies left. How many candies were
given away at the state fair?

If 4,533 of the leftover candies were chocolate covered candies, how many were
fruit-flavored candies?

Spectrum Critical Thinking for Math Lesson 1.4


Grade 4 Finding Unknowns
15

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NAME _________________________________________________________________________________

Lesson 1.4 Finding Unknowns


Solve the problems.

Draw a number line to show your work.


7,993 + _______ = 14,807

Earth is 7,926 miles wide. Saturn is much wider. The total width of Earth and Saturn
is 82,926 miles. How many miles wide is Saturn? Write the number sentence you
used to solve.

If you add the width of Neptune, which is 15,125 miles, how many miles wide are
all 3 planets?

Spectrum Critical Thinking for Math Lesson 1.4


Grade 4 Finding Unknowns
16

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NAME _________________________________________________________________________________

Lesson 1.5 Adding 3 or More Multi-Digit Numbers

You can use the partition method when adding three or more numbers.

2,012 + 150 + 150 = _______ thousands 2,000 + 0 + 0 = 2,000


hundreds 0 + 100 + 100 = 200
tens 10 + 50 + 50 = 110
ones 2 + 0 + 0 = 2

2,000 + 200 + 110 + 2 = 2,312

Solve. Use the partition method to show your work.

5,009 + 4,103 + 2,705 + 1,003 = _______

7,010 + 5,528 + 3,175 + 948 = _______

Spectrum Critical Thinking for Math Lesson 1.5


Grade 4 Adding 3 or More Multi-Digit Numbers
17

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NAME _________________________________________________________________________________

Lesson 1.6 Addition and Subtraction in the Real World

Last year, 10,738 teenagers lived in Travis County. This year, 922 more teenagers
moved there. How many teenagers live in Travis County now? Next month, 25
teenagers have birthdays and will no longer be teenagers. How many teenagers
will live in Travis County after next month?

First, add how many teenagers lived in Travis County last year, and how many
moved there this year: 10,738 + 922 = 11,660

Then, subtract the number of teenagers that have birthdays from the total number
of teenagers in Travis County: 11,660 – 25 = 11,635

After next month, Travis County will have 11,635 teenagers.

Solve the problems. Show your work.

Over the weekend, the Dumon Theater sold 7,615 buckets of popcorn, 1,207 bottles
of water, and 1,152 boxes of candy. How many food items did the theater sell?

How many more buckets of popcorn than boxes of candy did the theater sell?

Spectrum Critical Thinking for Math  Lesson 1.6


Grade 4 Addition and Subtraction in the Real World
18

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NAME _________________________________________________________________________________

Lesson 1.6 Addition and Subtraction in the Real World


Write a word problem to go with this addition problem. Then, solve.

10,738 + 1,327 =

________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

Write a word problem to go with this addition problem. Then, solve using the
partition method.

1,935 + 1,690 + 130 + 117 =

________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

Spectrum Critical Thinking for Math  Lesson 1.6


Grade 4 Addition and Subtraction in the Real World
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NAME _________________________________________________________________________________

Lesson 1.7 Checking Answers

You can check a subtraction problem by using addition.

1,971 – 466 = 1,055


1,055 + 466 = 1,521 This answer is not correct.

Solve the problem again and recheck.


6 11 1
1,971 1,505
– 466 + 466
1,505 1,971 This answer is correct.

Use addition to check the problems. If the answer is incorrect, solve the problem
again and recheck. Write the addition sentence you used to check.

512 – 167 = 287 20,897 – 4,187 = 17,191

Spectrum Critical Thinking for Math  Lesson 1.7


Grade 4 Checking Answers
20

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NAME _________________________________________________________________________________

Lesson 1.7 Checking Answers

You can check an addition problem by using subtraction.

14,011 + 25,126 = 40,137


40,137 – 25,126 = 15,011 This answer is incorrect.

Solve the problem again and recheck.


14,011 39,137
+ 25,126 – 25,126
39,137 14,011 This answer is correct.

Use subtraction to check the problems. If the answer is incorrect, solve the problem
again and recheck. Write the addition sentence you used to check.

43,106 + 19,847 = 75,103 1,599 + 3,100 = 4,998

Spectrum Critical Thinking for Math  Lesson 1.7


Grade 4 Checking Answers
21

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NAME _________________________________________________________________________________

Check What You Learned


Adding and Subtracting through 5 Digits

Read the problem carefully and solve. Show your work under each question.

Four Boy Scout troops collected canned goods to donate to the Rossville food bank.
At the end of the week, Troop 151 had 92 cans. Troop 152 had 213 cans. Troop
153 had 88 cans and Troop 154 had 105 cans.

1. H
 ow many more cans did Troop 152 and 154 collect than Troop 151 and 153?
CHAPTER 1 POSTTEST

Show your work using a number line.

2. T he scouts in Troop 154 brought in more cans the following week, raising their
total to 366 cans. How many cans did the students add in the following week?
Draw a picture to show your work.

Spectrum Critical Thinking for Math Chapter 1


Grade 4 Check What You Learned
22

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NAME _________________________________________________________________________________

Check What You Learned


Adding and Subtracting through 5 Digits

Read the problem carefully and solve. Show your work under each question.

The Penny Club at Avery Elementary School


Member Fall Spring
collects pennies and donates them to a local
charity every fall and spring. There are Kelly 5,899 16,522
4 members of the club: Kelly, Oliver, Pablo, Oliver 45,784 13,524
and Reese. The following chart shows how Pablo 9,632 85,211
many pennies each member collected last fall

CHAPTER 1 POSTTEST
Reese 963 48,599
and spring.

3. H
 ow many more pennies did the club donate in the spring than in the fall? Use
the traditional methods to show your work.

4. Which member donated the most pennies last year?

5. W
 hat is the total of the 3 highest amounts of pennies donated in the spring? Show
your work using the partition method.

Spectrum Critical Thinking for Math Chapter 1


Grade 4 Check What You Learned
23

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NAME _________________________________________________________________________________

Check What You Know


CHAPTER 2 PRETEST

Numeration

Andrew is thinking of a number. The number has a 3 in the tens place. The number
in the ones place is three more than 5. There is a 6 in the ten thousands place. The
number in the hundreds place is between 0 and 2. The number in the thousands
place is 5 less than 10.

Fill in the blanks for Andrew’s number.

1. Number name: _________________________________________________________

2. Expanded form: ________________________________________________________

3. Round the number to the nearest thousand: _________________________________

Jonathan is thinking of a number. This number has a 9 in the thousands place as


well as in the 2 places to the right. The number in the ones place is double the
number in the ten thousands place. The number in the hundred thousands place is 6.
The number in the ten thousands place is 4 less than 6. The number in the millions
place is between 4 and 6.

Fill in the blanks for Jonathan’s number.

4. Number Name: ________________________________________________________

5. Expanded Form: ________________________________________________________

6. Round the number to the nearest hundred thousand: _________________________

7. Compare Andrew and Jonathan’s numbers using <, >, or =.

___________ ___________

Spectrum Critical Thinking for Math Chapter 2


Grade 4 Check What You Know
24

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NAME _________________________________________________________________________________

Lesson 2.1 Place Value

Numbers are made up of the digits 0–9 in different places. The place value of
whole numbers goes from right to left. The chart below shows the place value of
each digit in the number 1,359,264.

×10 ×10 ×10 ×10 ×10 ×10


100,000 10,000
1,000,000 1,000 100 10 1
Place Value Hundred Ten
Millions Thousands Hundreds Tens Ones
Thousands Thousands
1 3 5 9 2 6 4
Digit Value 1,000,000 300,000 50,000 9,000 200 60 4
÷10 ÷10 ÷10 ÷10 ÷10 ÷10

Answer the questions.

Isabella is thinking of a number in the hundred thousands. The first digit is equal
to the number of digits in the number. The number has 20 tens and twice as many
thousands. The number of ones is an odd number that is less than 5 and greater than
the digit in the hundreds place. What is Isabella’s number?

Using the digits 7, 8, 5, 9, and 2, write three numbers: the smallest number
possible, the largest number possible, and a number between the largest and
smallest numbers.

Spectrum Critical Thinking for Math  Lesson 2.1


Grade 4 Place Value
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NAME _________________________________________________________________________________

Lesson 2.2 Writing Numbers

There are 3 ways to write numbers:

Standard form  Using numerals, place a comma every 3 digits going


from right to left: 25,845

Number name  Using words, include each digit as well as its place value:
twenty five thousand eight hundred forty five

Expanded form Shows how each digit is multiplied by its place value:
(2 x 10,000) + ( 5 x 1,000) + (8 x 100) + (4 x 10) + (5 x 1)

Write the missing forms of each number.

standard form 78,985

number name

expanded form

standard form

number name two hundred seventy-six thousand four hundred thirty

expanded form

standard form

number name

expanded form (4 x1,000) + (3 x 100) + (4 x1)

Spectrum Critical Thinking for Math  Lesson 2.2


Grade 4 Writing Numbers
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NAME _________________________________________________________________________________

Lesson 2.3 Rounding

To round 56,348 to the nearest thousand, follow these steps.


1. Find the digit in the thousands place: 56,348.
2. Look right. The digit in the hundreds place will decide if the digit in the
thousands place gets rounded up to 7 or stays the same at 6.
3. The digit in the hundreds place is 3. Since 3 is less than 5, the digit in the
thousands place, 6, stays the same.
4. All digits to the right of the thousands place become zeros.
5. 56,348 rounded to the nearest thousand is 56,000.

Round each number to all of the nearest place values.

187,349 58,045

tens: __________________________ tens: __________________________


hundreds: ______________________ hundreds: ______________________
thousands: _____________________ thousands: _____________________
ten thousands: __________________ ten thousands: __________________
hundred thousands: _____________ hundred thousands: _____________

567,503 285,393

tens: __________________________ tens: __________________________


hundreds: ______________________ hundreds: ______________________
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ten thousands: __________________ ten thousands: __________________
hundred thousands: _____________ hundred thousands: _____________

Spectrum Critical Thinking for Math Lesson 2.3


Grade 4 Rounding
27

705116 INT 4.indd 27 4/6/20 12:13 PM


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“Me, Hector?”
“Aye—juist yersel’, John.”
“Ha!” sighed Sir John, and turned to stare at the shore again, its
sandy bays and snowy cliffs much nearer now, while Sir Hector,
eyeing him a little askance, began to worry at his pipe again. And
then she who was the subject of their talk stepped out upon deck
and stood gazing shorewards beneath her hand.
“You are quite sure, then, that I mean her evil?” inquired Sir John
softly, his glance upon her unconscious form.
“Why, Jock ... why, Jock lad, ... ye see ... there’s y’r reputation!”
“My reputation!” he repeated. “Ever and always my reputation.
Aye, to be sure, Hector, to be sure—my reputation dogs me and will
do all my days.... I am no fit companion for Innocence; my reputation
forbids.... It goes beside me like a shadow, and yet for the moment I
had forgot it. Rose!” he called suddenly. “Rose child, pray come
hither!” Mutely obedient she came and stood, glancing quick-eyed
from one to the other. “Rose,” he continued, “my old and most
honoured friend, Sir Hector MacLean, tells me he hath offered you
the shelter of a father’s care?”
“Yes, your honour.”
“I have known and loved Sir Hector from my earliest years, and tell
you that in him you would find the most honourable, kindest, most
generous friend and guardian in all this big world——”
“Hoot, John lad!” exclaimed Sir Hector. “Ha’ done; ye fair mak’ me
blush!” And away he strode, incontinent.
“Knowing you as I do, child,” continued Sir John, his keen gaze
upon her down-bent face, “I fear that Sir Hector’s so altruistic offer
may seem to you a matter for laughter——”
“Laughter?” she repeated in hot anger. “Oh, indeed, sir! Be this
another o’ your honour’s clever guesses?”
“And so, Rose,” he went on placidly, “if you must laugh indeed,
laugh behind his back; do not let him see, for ’twould wound him
deeply——”
“And d’ye think I don’t know it!” she exclaimed furiously. “Do you
think I don’t see in him all that is lacking in yourself, Sir John Dering?
Simplicity, unselfishness, a noble innocence—the child in the man,
thinking no evil. And think you I shall laugh at such? Oh, by heaven, I
scorn you for so thinking——”
“And by heaven, child, you swear as trippingly as any fine lady
——”
“Indeed, sir, my mistress is a pretty swearer, I’ve heard say!”
“Howbeit, Rose, when you shall refuse Sir Hector’s generous and
most ridiculous offer, as you surely will——”
“Oh, shall I, sir?”
“Beyond doubt!”
“You are sure, sir?”
“Positive!”
“And pray why is your honour so very certain?”
“Because you could never mother an old man in a cottage—or any
other man, for that matter. The Spirit of Motherliness which is the
true glory of woman is not within you, Rose, or ... perchance it
sleepeth. Who can imagine you bringing a man his slippers, lighting
his pipe, scheming out and cooking some dish for the joy of seeing
him eat, making his comfort your happiness? Not I! For these are but
everyday, small duties—very humble things in themselves which yet,
in the sum, make up that divine Spirit of Motherhood, that self-
sacrificing, patient, unwearying, humble service that lifteth woman
very nigh the angels.”
“Faith, sir,” she exclaimed contemptuously, “you talk finer than any
parson and sound more sanctimonious than any good book that ever
sent me to sleep! And remembering your honour’s reputation, what
d’you know of angels, pray?”
“Naught i’ the world, child! Yet even I have my dreams. Now as to
yourself——”
“Oh, I’m all body an’ no soul!” she exclaimed bitterly.
“You have a fine, shapely body, girl——”
“Oh, your honour flatters me!”
“But your soul, Rose, your soul is—let us say asleep, and its place
usurped by a wild spirit a-tiptoe for adventure, heedless of restraint,
passionate, unreasoning and apt to plunge you into all manner o’
follies and dangers——”
“And doth all this go to prove I shall refuse Sir Hector’s kind offer?”
“And when you do, child, let your refusal be gentle; put on for him
your tenderest air, act for him your sweetest, most innocent self——”
“Oh, thank’ee kindly, Sir John Dering, your honour!” she broke out
fiercely. “But when I give him my answer I shall speak, and act, and
think, and look exactly how I please!”
He was regarding my lady’s retreating back somewhat wistfully
when Sir Hector joined him.
“What hae ye done t’ offend th’ lassie, John?” he demanded.
“I have been making up her mind to accept your offer, Hector.”
“Eh—eh? You have, ye say, John—you?”
“Myself, Hector! And yet, have I done right to influence the child, I
wonder? Are you sufficiently old and reverend with years to become
the guardian of a young and handsome girl?”
“Old enough!” exclaimed Sir Hector indignantly. “Losh, man, am I
no’ a person full o’ years ... aye, and an elder o’ the kirk, forbye? Am
I no’ a puir auld sojer-man wi’ ane fut i’ the grave? Am I no’?”
“Faith and indeed, Hector, you are the youngest old man in
Christendom.”
“John, juist what are ye suggestin’?”
“Well, among other things, that you be duly prepared to eat more
than is good for you, to have your slippers brought to you o’ nights,
your pipe lighted, and, in fine, to be mothered morning, noon and
night.”
“Whisht, Johnnie man, ye’re talkin’ wild-like, I’m thinkin’, and——”
“Axing y’r pardons, honours both,” said Captain Sharkie Nye,
stepping forward at this juncture to knuckle a bristly eyebrow at each
in turn and jerk a thumb shorewards, “but yonder lays Noohaven, an’
the ‘Anchor’ be a fair, good inn. Y’ see, sirs, George Potter ain’t
signalled us, which do mean as us must stand off an’ on till it be
dark. So if it be arl the same to ye, sirs, we’ll set ye ashore so soon
as you be ready.”
Sir Hector assenting forthwith, the boat was got alongside, and
they prepared to descend.
“Lord love us, Sir ’Ector, your honour!” exclaimed Captain Nye as
they shook hands, “’twas a woundy good shot o’ yourn, a shot as will
be minded an’ talked on fur many a day, aye—long arter we be dry
bones, I reckon. ’Tidn’t often a King’s ship be ’andled so rough, an’
’tis for arl on us to keep tight mouths, I reckon. I’ll be into Alfriston
one o’ these nights in the dark o’ the moon to smoke a pipe wi’ your
honour, ’cording to custom.”
And so, having got into the pitching boat with no small difficulty,
they were rowed ashore (discreetly outside the harbour), and were
soon tramping up the slope of pebbly beach, beyond which lay the
town. Presently they paused, as by mutual consent, and glanced
back to see the boat hauled aboard the lugger, whose sails were
smartly trimmed, and away foamed the True Believer seawards, with
Captain Sharkie Nye waving his red cap to them from her rail.
“And now,” sighed Sir John, “as regards that promised herring
——”
“Herring!” snorted Sir Hector. “My puir lass—are ye no’ hungry—
famishing?”
“Too hungry to tell, sir!” she answered.
“After all, Hector,” quoth Sir John, “though undoubtedly nourishing,
perhaps a herring is not——”
“Tae the de’il wi’ y’r herrin’, man! Tam Levitt at the ‘Anchor’ yonder
hath ay a ham tae cut at, wi’ a prime roast o’ beef ... by Andrew, the
thocht nigh unmans me! Gi’e’s y’r hand, Rose, an’ let’s rin for ’t!” And
off they raced forthwith, until my lady checked and bade Sir Hector
“remember his poor arm!”
“And your hoary age, Hector!” added Sir John.
CHAPTER XII
DESCRIBETH THE DUPLICITY OF INNOCENCE

Mr. Thomas Levitt, the landlord, received them beaming hearty


welcome, and with many nods and winks anent “true-believers” one
and all; and himself conducted them upstairs where, after sundry
ablutions, they sat down to viands that amply justified Sir Hector’s
prophecy. And a very excellent, though somewhat silent, meal they
made of it; even when hunger was appeased they spoke little—Sir
Hector because he was comfortably drowsy, my lady because she
was far too busy scheming out her next course of procedure, and Sir
John because he was content to study her half-averted face as she
sat, staring out of the open lattice. Thus he noted how her gaze
turned suddenly from the sunny landscape without to her cloak,
where it hung across an adjacent chair-back, and thence once more
to the window, almost furtively, while her foot began to tap with
restless impatience.
At last, Sir Hector chancing to snore gently, my lady started,
glanced swiftly from the sleeper to Sir John and, meeting his
whimsical glance, flushed suddenly and grew immediately angry in
consequence.
“Well, sir,” she demanded, frowning.
“I rejoice to know it, my Rose, for I——”
“I am not ‘your’ Rose!” she retorted petulantly, whereat he smiled
gently. Quoth he:
“Nay, Rose, who knows what the future may disclose? Shy Rose,
sly Rose, though thou seek’st to fly, Rose——”
“To fly?” she repeated, with startled look. “What—what do you
mean?”
“—Know, Rose, O Rose, love doth with thee go, Rose.”
“Love, Sir John?” she questioned mockingly. “Indeed, and whose?
And whither doth it go, pray?”
“Here and there, everywhere, this I vow to thee and swear—‘For
though thou flee, Rose, learn of me, Rose—what is to be will surely
be, Rose——’”
“Oh, ha’ done with your silly rhymes!” she cried in angry
impatience.
“O Petulance!” he sighed reproachfully. “Why must you interrupt
the prophetic muse?”
“Prophetic?” she exclaimed scornfully. “Is this another o’ your
marvellous guesses?”
“Even so, Rose. And here’s yet another! Regarding Sir Hector, his
offer, ‘to be or not to be’—your mind is made up. Here, then, steal I
away leaving you to wake and tell him aye or no.” Saying which, Sir
John arose, tiptoed from the chamber with elaborate care and closed
the door softly behind him before she could find a suitable retort.
It was perhaps some half-hour later that Sir Hector found him
busied inditing a letter; and Sir Hector’s wig was very much askew
and his eyes heavy with sleep.
“Whaur is she, John?” he inquired, staring about the room.
“Whaur’s the lassie Rose?”
“’Faith,” answered Sir John, glancing up from his writing, “she
should be safe enough. I left her with you.”
“An’ me asleep! I waked but the noo an’ ne’er a sign o’ her. Whaur
is she, John?”
“I don’t know.”
“Man, I’ve sought all o’er the inn, aye, an’ the stables too, an’
never a glimpse o’ her——”
“Strange!” mused Sir John, brushing chin with the feather of his
pen. “Odd ... and yet quite comprehensible——”
“Ha, d’ye think so? Well, I ask ye whaur’s the lass?”
“And I answer that I do not know.”
“John, is it the truth ye’re tellin’ me?” Sir John laid down his pen
and stared. “Well, can ye no’ speak? Whaur is she? What hae ye
done wi’ her?”
“Hector,” answered Sir John softly, “I am not in the habit of lying,
nor of permitting my word to be doubted by any man——”
“Aye, but I’m no’ juist ‘ony man’—I’m Hector Lauchlan MacLean o’
Duart! Aye, an’ I mind o’er weel y’r damnable reputation!”
“My reputation again—aye, to be sure!” murmured Sir John. “My
reputation discredits me still, it seems—even with you!”
“An’ why for no’? I’ve seen much o’ life—plenty evil an’ little good!
I’ve kenned men honourably born like ye’sel’ as hae lied—aye, tae
their best frien’, an’ a’ tae come at a wumman!”
“And you believe that I am lying?”
“Aye, I dae that!” cried Sir Hector in sudden fury, clapping hand to
sword.
Sir John rose.
“So you—you give me the lie?” he demanded, grim-lipped.
“In y’r teeth, sir—in y’r teeth!” cried Sir Hector. “I believe that ye’ve
stolen the puir innocent lass awa’ for y’r ain base purposes!” And
now, despite wounded arm, out flashed his ponderous blade, and
with point advanced he stepped forward fierce and threatening; and
so steel met steel. Then Sir John let fall his sword.
“My father’s friend and comrade ... God forbid!” quoth he. “Sir
Hector, if you judge me rogue so vile—strike, man, and have done!”
For a long moment Sir Hector stood irresolute, his great sword
quivering in fierce-griping hand.
“Ye winna fecht?” he questioned hoarsely at last.
“Never with you, Hector.”
“An’ ye tell me ye’ve no’ hidden the lassie?”
“I have not!”
“An’ that you’ve no’ driven her awa’ wi’ y’r shameful offers?”
“Most certainly not!”
“An’ ye’ve had naething whateffer tae dae wi’ her disappearance?”
“Nothing!”
“Then—the guid God forgi’e ye—read that, an’ ken ye’sel’ for the
false leear y’ are!” So saying, Sir Hector slapped down an open letter
on the table, which, after a momentary hesitation, Sir John took up;
and read as follows:

“To the nobel and generous Sir Hector.


“Honored Sur,—The memry of your extream and
unselfish kindnes will remane ever sweet to pore me that
must leve you awhile, perchance to return. If not arsk Sir John
Dering the reason he may gess being so clever and
perchance explane all things wherefore and why, Sir, I am
your honor’s grateful
“Rose.
“Are all wicked men so clever as wicked Sir John Dering I
wonder.”

“An’ now will ye fecht?” cried Sir Hector.


“No!” answered Sir John, flicking the letter to the floor. “Never with
you, Hector!”
“Why, then—I’m done wi’ ye!” roared Sir Hector, and, turning his
back, stamped from the room, closing the door after him with a
reverberating bang.
Left alone, Sir John reached for his sword, sheathed it, and,
picking up the letter, read it through a second time; and conning it
over thus he frowned a little, and his chin seemed a trifle more
prominent than usual. He was standing lost in thought when, hearing
a clatter of hoofs in the yard, he glanced through the window to
behold Sir Hector mount and ride away, his weatherbeaten hat
cocked at a ferocious angle. Slowly and carefully Sir John folded up
the letter and thrust it into a leathern wallet to keep company with a
curl of black and glossy hair. Then he rang and ordered a horse in
his turn.
“Pray, Mr. Levitt,” he inquired, “how many posting-inns are there in
this town?”
“Only two, sir; there be the ‘Lion’ an’ there be the ‘Wheatsheaf,’
both i’ the High Street, your honour.”
So in due season, the saddle-horse being at the door, Sir John
mounted, bade Mr. Levitt a cheery “good-bye” and rode along the
High Street. Inquiring at the ‘Lion,’ he learned of an ostler the
information he sought, to wit: “That a young ’ooman—or lady—had
ordered their fastest chaise an’ druv’ away for Lon’on ’bout a hour
ago!” Sir John thanked his informant, bestowed on him a crown and
rode upon his way, smiling a little grimly.
CHAPTER XIII
CONCERNING THE ADVENT OF JOHN DERWENT

Sir John, who, it would seem, never did things by halves, had
within the week transformed that exquisite work of art, known at
Paris and Versailles as Sir John Dering, into a very ordinary-looking
Mr. Derwent. In place of flowing peruke, embroidered coat and
perfumed silks and laces, Mr. Derwent wore a small, unpowdered
scratch-wig and a sober, snuff-coloured suit extremely unpretentious,
and instead of gold-hilted small-sword, carried a serviceable holly-
stick. Indeed, Mr. Derwent’s whole appearance was so eminently
unnoticeable and his bearing so ordinary that he might have been
termed “insignificant,” except perhaps for a certain tilt of his chin and
the brilliance of his long-lashed eyes.
It was a hot, languorous afternoon, birds chirped drowsily,
butterflies hovered, and Sir John, or rather Mr. Derwent, seated upon
the lofty summit of Firle Beacon, breathed an air fresh from the sea
yet fragrant of the wild thyme of the Downs, and hearkened to the
larks that soared high above and all around him, filling that same air
with their joyous, trilling music: insomuch that he grew joyous also,
since this was England and home. Beneath him the majestic Beacon
swept down to the wide vale below in great, billowing, green curves
of sweet, springy turf where a myriad flowers bloomed; away to the
south rose the mighty shape of Windover, and between, a far-
stretching vale where homestead and hamlet nestled amid trees that
bosomed time-worn tower and ancient spire, backed by shady
copse, denser wood and the dark, far-flung forest of Battle; a fair and
wide prospect where brooks sparkled, a winding river gleamed and
white roads ran between shady hedgerows and flowery banks; a
vast expanse where the unwearied gaze might rove from distant
Lewes away to Pevensey Level and a haze that was the sea.
So lost was Sir John in the ever-changing wonder of the scene
that he started suddenly, beholding one who had approached
unheard upon the velvet ling, a man who also surveyed the
widespread landscape with eyes of awed delight. A man, this, of no
great size yet of powerful build, a man in weather-stained coat,
open-kneed breeches and rough shoes and stockings, yet who wore
these garments with an unconscious ease, while the face beneath
shapeless hat was well-featured and arresting; indeed, there was
about his whole person an air of breeding and refinement that Sir
John was quick to heed: in one hand he bore a long-barrelled
musket, in the other a newly slain rabbit and upon his broad back a
small colour-box.
“A glorious prospect, sir!” quoth Sir John.
“Indeed!” nodded the stranger, his gaze still upon the distance.
“’Tis a sight to fill a man with wonder, a country to leave that a man
may come back to it, to paint because it is so unpaintable ... so
simple that it awes a man with its mystery ... a country to live in and
die in ... ’tis the Down-country, sir!”
“You know it well, I perceive, sir.”
“Aye,” answered the stranger, seating himself upon the grass. “I
know every ring, barrow and tumulus far as you can see—and
farther. I have fished every bend o’ yon river and have painted it all
so often that I begin to know that I never shall paint it ... no hand
ever will! Though, to be sure, I have come nigh doing so once or
twice! But what brush can suggest all the sublime majesty of these
everlasting hills, yon sweep of valley? So when I’m tempted to try
again, I generally bring Brown Bess here that my day be not wholly
in vain.” And he patted the long weapon across his knees.
“Do you always shoot conies with a musket, sir?”
“Always!” nodded the painter, with sudden smile. “’Tis a little
irregular, mayhap, but ’tis more sport to myself and fairer to the cony.
If I miss, which is seldom, my cony is unharmed; when I hit, which I
generally do, my cony is swiftly and very completely dead.... You are
a stranger hereabouts, I think, sir?”
“Extremely!” answered Sir John.
“Aye, to be sure,” nodded the painter, smiling grimly. “Folk in these
parts don’t take kindly to new faces——”
“Being all staunch believers in—free trade.... ‘True-believers’?”
suggested Sir John.
“Aha, you’ve heard o’ that elusive craft, then?” inquired the painter,
with a keen glance.
“And sailed aboard her a week ago!” nodded Sir John.
“What—the trip they crippled the Seahorse? Were this known
’twould make you at home wi’ all the Down folk hereabouts. For,
egad, sir, we’re all smugglers, more or less, and are, on the whole, a
very orderly, peaceable community—with the exception of that
damned scoundrel, my Lord Sayle, whose life is a scandal in every
way.”
“I’ve heard of him, sir; he is said to be a dangerous fellow—an
inveterate duellist?” said Sir John.
“Aye, as notorious as Dering of Dering, whose empty house
stands in the valley yonder. ’Twould be a blessing to the world in
general if these two fine gentlemen could meet and exterminate
each other; they have cumbered the earth too long—especially my
Lord Sayle, one o’ your merciless rake-hells ... a very masterful
libertine of whom I’ve heard such shameful tales—faugh!” and the
painter spat in sheer disgust.
“And is my lord a smuggler also?”
“Why, at first he winked at ‘the trade’ and took many a bale and
cask as a bribe, but later he demanded a percentage on every
cargo, and, being refused, promptly ratted and set the law in motion,
with the result that there’s been wild doings hereabouts o’ late and
may be wilder yet. The excise officers will find theirs a hard task, for,
as I say, we’re all ‘in it’ more or less. I’ve drank many a glass of right
Nantzy, and even Parson Hartop, godly soul, has smoked tobacco
that hath paid no more duty than the laces on my daughter’s
petticoat. Are ye travelling far, sir?”
“To High Dering.”
“Ah, ’tis a village over yonder!” said the painter, with a jerk of his
head. “’Tis a village, sir, that labours under a blight, a disease, a very
effective curse.”
“Indeed!” exclaimed Sir John, a little startled.
“Yes, sir. The name of this particular disease is Dering—Sir John
Dering.”
“Ah,” sighed Sir John, “I have heard of him also——”
“And little to his good, I’ll warrant!” quoth the painter. “Dering of
Dering is the biggest landlord in these parts—and the worst.”
“How so, sir?”
“Owning so much land, he consequently owes a duty to the county
and to his tenants—a debt he hath never paid and never will, being a
poor fool, sir, a miserable wretch who takes and gives nothing, who
passes his life in riot and debauchery shut up in Paris salons when
he might be walking these hills a free man, honoured by his
tenantry.... Are you staying long hereabouts?”
“Yes, sir,” answered Sir John. “And my name is Derwent.”
“Then, Mr. Derwent, should you find yourself Alfriston way, come
and see us. My daughter shall brew you a dish of such tea as you
seldom drank before and that never passed the excise ... and I’ve
some French brandy——We will smoke a friendly pipe and talk, sir,
for to talk is to be alive!” So saying, the painter got lightly to his feet
and stood a moment to survey the widespread prospect.
“Look around you!” quoth he. “In the brooding silence of these
immemorial hills the long-forgotten dead may find voices to speak of
vanished peoples whiles here we stand, you and I, alive for a little
space, yet soon to pass and vanish, as they. How glorious, then,
whiles we have life, to worship the Infinite God within and around us,
here amid these fragrant solitudes ... and to poach an occasional
rabbit!” saying which, the painter laughed, shouldered his musket
and strode off, leaving Sir John to pursue his solitary and pensive
way, filled with a strange new sense of responsibility, until, having
descended the Beacon, he reached a stile and, seated thereon, fell
to profound meditation.
Across undulating park, shaded by ancient trees, rose the stately
pile of Dering Manor, his home; in the valley hard by, sheltered
beneath lofty Firle, nestled Dering village; all around him, far as eye
could see, the land was his: thus, as he surveyed this goodly
heritage, his sense of responsibility grew, a feeling unknown until
now.
From these reflections he was suddenly aroused by feeling a
sharp prod in the back, and, glancing sharply around, beheld an old
man who peered up at him from under a well-brushed, wide-eaved
hat and poked at him with a knotted stick; a small, wrinkled, rosy-
cheeked, exquisitely neat old man in spotless frock and highly
polished boots, and who now addressed him in querulous tones,
though his bright eyes held a lurking twinkle.
“Lord, young master, lordy-lord!” he quavered; “there ’ee du set s’
quiet an’ still as Peter Bunkle’s ’og as was killed day afore yesterday
’s ever was, that ’ee du!”
“I was thinking,” answered Sir John, almost apologetically.
“Well, I be thinkin’ tu ... I be thinkin’ ’tis toime ’ee comed off’n stile
an’ mak’ way fur a old, ancient man as wur a-buryin’ folk older’n ’ee
afore ’ee was born, I reckon.”
Down got Sir John forthwith and, seeing the old man so feeble,
reached out a hand in aid, whereupon the ancient man swore at him,
though a little breathlessly by reason of his exertions as he climbed.
“Dang’ee—lemme be!” he gasped. “Du ’ee think as oi caan’t
cloimb a little bit of a stoile as I’ve clumb, man an’ bye, for seventy
year? Lemme be—an’ dang’ee twoice!” Gasping these words and
with infinite exertions the old man mounted the stile, seated himself
on the top bar in Sir John’s place and, mopping wrinkled brow with
the end of a newly washed and ironed neckerchief of vivid hue,
nodded at Sir John in very fierce and determined fashion. “Look’ee
naow,” he panted. “I’ve set ’ere on this yer stoile fur six-and-sixty
year—ah, p’r’aps longer—every sunny arternoon, off an’ on, and ’ere
I be a-goin’ to set ’cording to custom, so oi be—an’ dang you an’ arl!
An’ what do ’ee say naow?”
“That you are very welcome,” smiled Sir John. “I hope you live to
sit there for many a long day; you look hale and hearty——”
“Wot—me?” croaked the old man fiercely. “Me ’ale an’ ’earty!
Lordy-lord, young man, ’ee must be a gert fule not t’see as oi du be
waastin’ away an’ perishin’ wi’ a disease no doctor nor ’poth’cary can
cure. There be ’poth’cary Mayfield, over tu Lewes, sez tu me: ‘’Osea
Dumbrell,’ ’e sez, ‘if I wuz tu give ’ee arl th’ drugs in my shop they
wouldn’t do ’ee no manner o’ good!’ ’e sez. An’ no wonder, for my
disease bean’t no ordinary disease—no! My disease, young man, be
a musket-ball in my in’ards as won’t come out no-’ow!”
“A musket-ball!” exclaimed Sir John, staring.
“Ah—in me in’ards!” nodded the old man triumphantly; “as won’t
come out! An’ ’twixt you an’ me, a preventive bullet it were. Ketched
me ’ere ’twixt wind an’ watter, it did! Six-an’-fifty years ago come
Martinmas, an’ brings up agin me backbone wi’ a crack as nigh
deafened me; ah, it be gert wonder as it didn’t kill oi stone-dead!”
“Indeed, yes!” murmured Sir John.
“An’ theer it du bide ever since, young man. I can feel it!
Whens’ever oi walks tu fast or coughs a spell, that theer old musket-
ball goes a-rollin’ an’ a-rattlin’ about in me pore old in’ards summat
crool, lordy-lord! Las’ toime I seed Doctor Blake, t’ surgeon, about
’un, ’e shook ’is ’ead solemn-loike: ‘You’m a-goin’ t’ die, ’Osea
Dumbrell,’ ’e sez. ‘Aye,’ I sez, ‘so be you, doctor, but as fur oi—
when?’ ‘When ye du,’ ’e sez, ‘’twill be mortal sudden!’ ’e sez. That
wur years an’ years ago, an’ ’ere be I alive an’ kickin’.... Doan’t seem
right some’ow, fur doctor be mortal knowin’. But I doan’t look much
loike dyin’, du I?
“No, indeed!” answered Sir John. “And you are surely the neatest,
smartest——”
“That’ll du—that’ll du!” croaked the ancient man angrily. “’Tidn’t my
fault! Don’t ’ee go a-blamin’ of oi—blame me granddarter Ann! Her
du be for ever a-washin’ an’ a-breshin’ an’ a-cleanin’ o’ me, till it be
gert wonder ’er don’t scrub me into me grave! Combed all th’ ’air
off’n me ’ead, she ’ave, an’ now combin’ out arl me whiskers—what
be left of ’em! ’Tidn’t respectful—no! ’Ef ’ee du get dirty,’ ’er sez tu
me, ‘no baccy!’ ’er sez—a crool ’ard creeter be me granddarter Ann!
Look at me boots, so bright an’ shinin’—I dassent go a-nigh a bit o’
mud! An’ I loike mud—leastways a bit o’ mud don’t nowise ’arm
nobody, an’ when it be forbid I could waller in it, j’yful—ah, an’ I will
one o’ these days an’ dang arl! A crool, flinty-’earted, brimstone witch
be my granddart——”
“Granfer!” called a soft voice at no great distance. “Granfer!”
“By goles!” ejaculated the ancient; and skipping down from the
stile with surprising agility, he was in the act of brushing imaginary
dust from his immaculate smock-frock when round a bend in the lane
there appeared a shapely young woman who, coming thus
unexpectedly upon Sir John, blushed very prettily and dropped him a
curtsy, then turned to glance at one standing immediately behind her,
a tall, square-shouldered, powerful-looking fellow who, meeting Sir
John’s quick, bright glance, flushed also, from square chin to the
curls of very neat wig that showed beneath neat hat, and, flushing,
bowed, though remarkably stiff in the back about it.
“Come, Granfer,” said the girl, “it be toime ye took your egg-an’-
milk!”
“Cruel and flinty-hearted?” murmured Sir John reproachfully. “O
Mr. Dumbrell!”
“Hesh-hesh!” whispered the ancient fiercely.
“Are ye catchin’ cold, Granfer deary?”
“Brimstone witch? O Mr. Dumbrell!”
“Who be the man ahint ye, Nan?” demanded the old man, pointing
with his stick.
“Only the gentleman as took my part’s marnin’ agin Mr. Sturton,
Granfer.”
“Sturton!” snarled the ancient, flourishing stick in tremulous hand.
“Sturton—dang ’im! Ef I ketch ’im tryin’ t’ kiss ’ee, lass, I’ll break ’is
’ead for ’im so old as I be—aye, I will, an’ ’e can turn us out o’ th’
ow’d cottage arter if ’e loikes—dang ’im! Doan’t ’ee forget pore Mary
Beal as drownded ’erself las’ year arl along o’ Sturton——”
“There, there, Granfer, you be gettin’ arl of a shake! That’ll du now,
that’ll du or—no puddin’ fur your supper, mind that.”
“Arl right, lass, arl right! Only when I du think o’ that Sturton——”
“Then don’t ’ee, Granfer, or not a scrinch o’ sugar or nutmeg in y’r
egg-an’-milk an’ nary a spot o’ rum. So be a good lad an’ come ’long
o’ me!”
“Well, Robert,” quoth Sir John, seating himself on the stile again
so soon as they were alone, “my letter reached you in time, then?”
“And I’m here in conse-quence, sir!”
“What is all this about Sturton?”
Ex-Corporal Robert shifted his right foot slightly, and raising stiff
arm, coughed deprecatingly behind a discreet hand.
“Sir,” he answered, “I regret to be obleeged to inform your honour
that I opened hostilities this morning without your honour’s orders,
feeling myself obligated thereto by reason of a young fe-male——”
“I suggest ‘maid,’ Robert.”
“Maid, your honour, which young female crying out——”
“Damsel, Robert.”
“Damsel, your honour ... crying out, sir, I observed said young fe
——”
“Nymph, Robert.”
“Yes, sir. I ob-served same a-struggling with Mr. Sturton.
Whereupon, your honour, judging the ser-cumstances called for indi-
vidual action, I opened hos-tilities forthwith.”
“Did Mr. Sturton receive any—injuries, Robert?”
“Only super-facially, sir. His right ogle, your honour; otherwise he
retreated in fairly good order, sir.”
“Whiles you comforted the distressed damsel, Bob?”
“I did my endeavour, sir,” answered the ex-corporal, imperturbable
as ever.
“Extreme commendable in you, Robert, for hitherto you have not
been precisely a ‘squire o’ dames.’”
“Heretofore, sir, I have preferred horses.”
“And egad,” sighed Sir John wistfully, “’twould almost seem you
were the wiser, Bob! For though horses may balk they cannot talk,
they may break your neck but they cannot break your heart.... ’S life,
Bob, ’tis subject suggestive for a lampoon on the Sex!... ‘The Jade
Equine and Feminine,’ or ‘The Horse the Nobler Animal.’ ... It
promiseth, Robert, it promiseth!... Hum! Though horses may balk,
women will talk; break your necks, falsest sex. Though horses
unseat ye they cannot ill-treat ye. What though they be glandered no
fame ha’ they slandered. Though horses go lame they never
defame. Yes, it promiseth exceeding well!” and out came Sir John’s
memorandum. And after he had been thus busied for some minutes,
Robert the Imperturbable spoke:
“Pray what are your honour’s orders?”
“Orders?” repeated Sir John, glancing up a little vacantly. “Though
they be spavined ... spavined? ’Twon’t do—’tis a devilish awkward
word—eh, Bob?”
“Yes, sir ... and your orders?”
“Aye, to be sure,” sighed Sir John, “you will pursue every inquiry
and research in regard to Mr. James Sturton ... and inquire for me at
the ‘Dering Arms’ about six o’clock this evening.”
“As Mr. Derwent, your honour?”
“As Mr. Derwent. And, by the way, Bob ... concerning the
granddaughter of our ancient Mr. Dumbrell—her name is Ann, I
think?”
“So I am give to understand, sir.”
“She is a fine, handsome creature, Robert?”
“Yes, your honour.”
“With a neat foot and a low, sweet voice.”
“Yes, your honour.”
“Some sage philosopher hath it, Bob, that ‘a pretty foot is the one
element of beauty that defieth Time,’ but I, who pretend to some little
discernment in such matters, incline to the belief that a low, soft-
sweet voice may endure even longer.”
“Indeed, your honour?”
“Remembering which ... and Mr. Sturton’s apparently unwelcome
attentions, I think ’twere as well you should keep an eye on old Mr.
Dumbrell’s granddaughter, Robert.”
“Very good, sir!” answered the ex-corporal, and with a movement
that was something between bow and salute, he wheeled and strode
away, leaving Sir John, perched upon the stile, hard at work upon his
lampoon.

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