"Lesbia?" he gasped.
"Thrue for ye," grumbled Tim, who looked more misshapen that ever in the dim light. "It's from the young mistress I come. Whist now, sor, an' let me clear out av this divil of a place."
George backed his boat out of the lock and Tim muttering under his breath, followed closely. Then the little man paddled his clumsy craft into the near bank, and beckoned George to come also. In a few minutes the two boats were amongst the rustling sedges side by side, and Walker waited breathlessly for Tim to speak.
The sky was filling with shadows, but there was sufficient light for George to see that Tim looked both sorrowful and worried. The sight of the dwarfs sad face revived his terrors.
"Lesbia," cried George again, and gripped Tim's arm fiercely. "She is well?"
"Well in body but sick of heart," said Tim dismally. "Augh, the poor mistress, and how can she be well wid the divil's divarsions bein' played round her?"
"I have tried to see her----"
"Divil a doubt of it, sor. And ye've sint letthers likewise."
"She never answered," breathed George sadly.
"An' how cud she whin she nivir recaved thim same. Answer me that now, sor."