"I'm very sorry. I never thought of that. But so many things I didn't expect prevented me coming."
"Have you seen Hannah? She's been a-grievin' about you, thinkin' as you might ha' come to harm."
"No, I haven't been near the Old Bailey," said Lavinia hesitatingly. "Perhaps you'll guess why. I dare say Hannah's told you about me and my mother."
"Oh, to be sure she has. May be you don't know then that your mother's got another husband?"
"I'm glad of it. She won't bother any more about me now."
"May be not. But what d'ye want?"
"I'd like to know if you can let me have a lodging. It'll suit me to live at Hampstead for a while."
"But s'posing as it don't suit me to have you?"
"Then I must go somewhere else. I think Hannah would be glad if I was with you."
"Aye, but you've been away from her goodness knows how long. What have you been a-doin' of all that while?"