"If Sam will stick to that it will be well for him."
"He's taken up extraordinary with the repairs, Mr. Fenwick. He's in and about and over the place, looking to everything; and feyther says he knows so much about it, he b'lieves the boy could do it all out o' his own head. There's nothing feyther ever liked so much as folks to be strong and clever."
"Perhaps the Squire's tradesmen won't like all that. Is Mitchell going to do it?"
"It ain't a doing in that way, Mr. Fenwick. The Squire is allowing £200, and feyther is to get it done. Mister Mitchell is to see that it's done proper, no doubt."
"And now tell me, Mrs. Brattle, what has Sam been about all the time that he was away?"
"That's just what I cannot tell you, Mr. Fenwick."
"Your husband has asked him, I suppose?"
"If he has, he ain't told me, Mr. Fenwick. I don't care to come between them with hints and jealousies, suspecting like. Our Fan says he's been out working somewhere Lavington way; but I don't know as she knows."
"Was he decent looking when he came home?"
"He wasn't much amiss, Mr. Fenwick. He has that way with him that he most always looks decent;—don't he, sir?"