And she ran past Theodore into the house.
Then Theodore, whose eyes were sharp, recognized Bram. And there flashed through his brain, always active on his own behalf, the suspicion that this presumptuous young man might be spying not so much on his employer’s account, as upon his own. The idea struck Theodore as preposterously amusing; but at the same time he thought that something might be made out of the foolish fellow’s infatuation, if it indeed existed.
“Well, and how about the lodgings?” said he with cheerful condescension, as Bram came nearer.
“Ah’ve found some,” replied Bram shortly.
“And what brings you so far afield?” went on Theodore more urbanely than ever. “May I hazard the conjecture that there’s a lady in the case?”
The young man was quick to seize this suggestion, which he saw might be used most usefully hereafter.
“Ay, sir, that’s about reght,” said he. “But she doan’t live here,” he went on, making up his story with great deliberation as he spoke. “She lives miles away in t’ country; but Ah thought Ah’d better settle out of t’ town myself, before Ah went courting.”
Theodore was disappointed, but he did not show it.
“Well,” said he, “we shall see something of you now and then, I daresay.”