Someone was riding up. It was Red Easu. He slung himself off his horse, and stalked slowly up.
"Herbert dead?" he asked humorously.
"Doing nicely," said Dad, very brief.
"I'll go an' have a look at 'm," said Easu, sitting on the step and pulling off his boots.
"Don't wake him if he's asleep. Don't frighten him, whatever you do," said Jack, anxious for his charge.
Easu looked at Jack with an insolent stare: a curious stare.
"Frighten him?" he said. "What with?"
"Jack's been up with him all night," put in Monica fiercely.
"He nearly died in the night," said Jack.
There was dead silence. Easu stared, poised like some menacing bird. Then he went indoors in his stocking feet.