"Well, to continue about Farbis. How do they get their bales of cloth away?"
"There's a road over the hills by Farbis Court. The weavers here are a poor lot, and an infernally irreligious set. God forgive me for swearing!"
"They seem healthy enough."
"Oh yes 1 The air is good. They don't bother the doctor much."
"Dr. Merle! I saw him the other day."
Jarner faced round suddenly with a grave look on his face.
"What do you think of him?" he asked doubtfully.
"I think it is a pity he doesn't take example by De Quincey, and put away that decanter."
"Oh, you saw that, did you? You have sharp eyes, young man. Yes, yes! it's a great pity. I've tried to break him off that laudanum-drinking, but it's no use; the man's a slave to the vice. I've straightened him out a dozen times, and he always doubles up again. Lord forbid that I should speak ill of my fellow-creatures, but Richard Merle's a poor white mouse of a creature!"
"It is more than his daughter is."