“I were going to say as I wouldn’t say nowt about it, and I won’t, but that poor lad has either been made away wi—”
“Tut, tut, nonsense!”
“Well, then, he’s made away wi’ himself,” cried old Tummus, bringing his hand down upon the table with a heavy bang.
The bailiff, who had not removed his hat before now, took it off, showing a heavy dew upon his forehead, which he wiped away as he looked uneasily from one to the other.
“What—what makes you say that, Tummus?” murmured Ellis, who did not seem to be himself at all.
“Now, Tummus, do mind what you’re saying,” said old Hannah, in a lachrymose tone of voice.
“Well, I am, arn’t I? What I say is this: Warn’t it likely?”
“Likely?”
“Aye, likely. Here’s the poor lad loses his sight all at once just when he’s getting on and going to be head-gardener and marry my pretty bairn.”
“Nothing of the sort, sir,” cried the bailiff warmly. “You’re too fond of settling other people’s business.”