“I coom,” he said, tremulously, “to look in.”
Nobody smiled.
“To look in?” said Anice. “Why, whom did you want to see?”
Jud jerked his elbow at Derrick.
“It was him” he answered. “I wanted to see if he had gone home yet.”
“But why?” she asked again.
He shuffled his feet uneasily and his eyes fell. He looked down at Nib's head and faltered.
“I—” he said. “I wanted to stop him. I—I dunnot know——” And then the rest came in a burst. “He munnot go,” he cried, trembling afresh. “He mun keep away fro' th' Knoll Road.”
The party exchanged glances.
“There is mischief in hand,” said Mr. Barholm; “that is plain enough.”