"I'm all right."
"I ban't too close to you, I hope?"
She shook her head. She felt comfortable and easy with him, as usual, but her heart beat no quicker for his voice or the inquiring gaze of his great mild eyes.
"My brother was married afore I comed acquainted with you. He's a gamekeeper and his wife has a child every second year. For my part I think they're unlucky; but their way is to trust the Lord to look after the childer. But I'm not sure. By the same token you might not know that you've got another nephew. Your sister, Mrs. Screech, had a son yesterday betwixt six and seven of the evening. Screech comed in to smoke a pipe when 'twas all over. A very clever job, I hear, and the child to be called after your father."
"I don't want to know nothing about it, thank you."
"Beg pardon, I'm sure."
He was silenced for some time. Then he observed that Rhoda had a finger tied up.
"I do hope as you haven't hurt yourself," he said.
"Nothing at all. A dog bit through when he was playing."
"They will, and yet mean no harm."