"My dear, 'tis more'n ten years ago. Now, 'av you told Leadville about Gray?"
"I said to'n 'They're courtin' an'll be married very soon an' I expect they'll come 'ere to live.'"
"What did he say about it, then?"
"'E give a nasty grunt-like, 'e did; still 'e'll get over that. To-morrow I'll tell'n of 't; but I don't feel I could bear any more to-day."
"Well, to-morrow'll do."
As she spoke, Byron opened the linhay door. The dancing flames illumined the low-browed room sufficiently, for him to see the two women seated one on each side of the hearth; and with a short mutter of greeting he walked over to the window-bench. "Who brought they groceries back?"
"I did," said Mrs. Tom.
"Is Gray come back then?"
"Gray? She idn't comin' back. Me and S'bina 've made arrangements for Richbell to come in 'er place."
He had suspected the women were plotting against him. He had been conscious of their intangible opposition and a spasm of hatred took him by the throat. He shook in the grip of it. "Why?"