Carpent

But no, he looked out at us long. Then shut the Book and strode down the aisle past every half-filled pew. The ones you-know-who carpented – certainly not me. Cracking, they are. Like l told him they would.

The next sentence, however, clarifies what Harville's employment actually is: He drew, he varnished, he carpented, he glued; he made toys for the children, he fashioned new netting-needles and pins with improvements; ...

The hallway was unlit and sour with the odour of linoleum, and the man who took the work came early the next day, refused the food we offered, ate his own, and worked until the light was gone outside, carpenting the lengths of wood with skill ...