"I have told him the same thing myself," said Mary Lawrie, turning round.
"If you told him as though you meant it, he wouldn't go," said Mrs Baggett.
"That's all you know about it," said Mr Whittlestaff. "Now the fact is, I won't stand this kind of thing. If you mean to remain here, you must be less free with your tongue."
"I don't mean to remain here, Mr Whittlestaff. It's just that as I'm coming to. There's Timothy Baggett is down there among the hosses, and he says as I am to go with him. So I've come up here to say that if he's allowed to sleep it off to-day, I'll be ready to start to-morrow."
"I tell you I am not going to make any change at all," said Mr Whittlestaff.
"You was saying you was going away,—for the honeymoon, I did suppose."
"A man may go away if he pleases, without any reason of that kind. Oh dear, oh dear, that letter is not gone! I insist that that letter should go. I suppose I must see about it myself." Then when he began to move, the women moved also. Mary went to look after the sandwiches, and Mrs Baggett to despatch the letter. In ten minutes the letter was gone, and half an hour afterwards Mr Whittlestaff had himself driven down to the station.
"What is it he means, Miss?" said Mrs Baggett, when the master was gone.
"I do not know," said Mary, who was in truth very angry with the old woman.
"He wants to make you Mrs Whittlestaff."