“Caleb Kent, sir?”
“Yes. What’s become of him? I haven’t seen him lately.”
“Racketing about somewhere, sir. Me and him had a quarrel or two about my Judith. He was always hanging after her; and it got so bad, at last, that I promised him a charge o’ shot in his jacket if he ever came anigh our place again. He saw I meant it, sir, and he has left the poor girl in peace.”
“Well, I must be off, Hayle.”
“Thankye for calling, sir. Been to see the old mother-in-law?”
“Yes; she keeps wonderfully well.”
“You mean you keep her wonderfully well, sir. Poor old girl, she’s not a bad one in her way.”
“No, and there’s nothing the matter with her but old age.”
“Hear that the missus is coming back to The Warren, sir?”
“Yes, and that the Brackley people are on their way too. Look here, Hayle, shall I put in a word for you to Sir John?”