"He be a proper little dawg, so he be! And I be always pleased to see 'im, for I knows my tidy little maid be not far off."
"I'm a-going back to London," said Peggy, with serious face. "I hardly knows what 'll happen to me now. 'Tis a shock my head hasn't got over, for my missuses are goin' away and don't want me. And two months is a long time, mister; and another place will be very anxious work for me."
"Dear life!" ejaculated the old man. "Bill and me will miss you sorely. 'Twas only yester-night Bill were sayin' p'raps one day he'd ask yer to come and stop prop'ly with us. He do like the place kep' tidy."
Peggy was too full of the impending change in her prospects to realise the full significance of this speech.
"Bill will have to keep the place tidy hisself till I comes back agen," she said. "I'll come in and say goodbye afore I goes, mister, but I must hurry along and see Mrs. Dale now."
She reached the farm, and Ellen opened the door to her. For a moment both girls looked at each other silently, but Ellen's cheeks were crimson, and though she gave her head a little toss, she looked thoroughly uncomfortable.
As for Peggy, her chin and nose were uptilted, and her voice as steady as a rock.
"I wants to see Mrs. Dale."
Without a word Ellen ushered her into that lady's sitting room.
Mrs. Dale received Peggy very kindly.