“Which I’m trying to, ma’am, only you all flurry me so. You see I knowed as Master Burr was shut up, something about some trouble or scrape—as boys will be boys, and always was, but being busy in my kidgen, and plenty to do, and the young gentlemen all forbid to say what it was about, so as I never knowed till this morning, when Polly ’Opley comes and tells me all about it, as Mr Lomax goes and tells her father—your keeper, sir—and Polly only this morning, and she never knowed it before, and then came on and told me something as’ll make you all ashamed of treating a poor boy like that.”
“Yes, yes, yes,” said my uncle impatiently; “but do you know anything about the watch?”
“Which I’m telling you, sir,” cried Cook, “though not a word did I know till Polly ’Opley comes just now, when I see it all as plain as pie-crust, and I says to her, ‘Polly,’ I says, ‘they’re all in the libery now, and you shall come and tell ’em the whole truth.’”
“Then you know, Polly, my child?” said the General eagerly.
“Yes, Sir Orkus, please, Sir Orkus,” said Polly, blushing.
“Then, then, tell us all at once, there’s a good girl.”
“Yes, Sir Orkus. Not as I ever encouraged him a bit to come to our cottage.”
“Humph!” said the Doctor; “you always bait your trap with sweets to get the boys to come, girl.”
“Please, sir, I didn’t mean the young gentlemen, I meant Dick Magglin.”
“Eh, what?” cried the General.