"He's gone out with his pipe," said Sarah, looking gratuitously concerned. "I'm sure I don't know where you'll find him." But this sounded like an afterthought; and there was a something shifty and yet wistful in the old body's manner that inclined me to a little talk with her about the master.
"You don't think he's just gone into the wood, do you, Sarah?"
"Well, he do go there a good deal," said Sarah. "Of course he don't always go that way; but he do go there."
"Might he have gone into Captain Ricardo's, Sarah?"
"He might," said Sarah, with more than dubious emphasis.
"They're his great friends now, aren't they?" I hazarded.
"Not Captain Ricardo, sir," said Sarah. "I've only seen him in the 'ouse but once, and that was when Miss Hamy was married; but we 'ad all sorts then." And Sarah looked as though the highways and hedges had been scoured for guests.
"But do you see much more of Mrs. Ricardo, Sarah?"
"I don't, sir, but Mr. Hugo do," said Sarah, for once off her loyal guard. "He sees more of her than his ma would like."
"Come, come, Sarah! She's a charming lady, and quite the belle of the Estate."