He went down the passage and knocked at the kitchen-door.
"Come in," said a voice.
He entered.
The woman faced him, formidable as a tigress guarding her cubs.
Her enemy eyed her with something more than kindness.
"I've seen one child," he said with the charm he could assume at will. "Where's tother?"
His manner disarmed her. Half-hidden behind a towel-horse was a cot. Anne Caspar stood aside while the big man bent over the sleeping child.
"Ern's all right," she said. "This'n's not much to talk on—as yet. I'd not have rared him only for Mr. Trupp."
"Mr. Trupp's a great man," said the other, and laid two sovereigns on the table.
"One for each of em," he explained.