“You never mind that,” cried the old woman. “I know what I’m saying, and I’m not afraid of any of you.”
Just then one of the women from the next cottages came out and curtseyed to them.
“Don’t take any notice of what she says, sir. She’s a bit put out to-day.”
“So it seems,” said Uncle Richard. “Let me see, Mrs Deane, isn’t it?”
“Yes, sir,” said the woman, smiling.
“You can tell me then where is Pete Warboys?”
The old woman literally shrieked out—
“Let her say a word if she dares. She’d better. She hasn’t forgotten what I did to—Ah! look at that.”
She uttered the last words triumphantly, for the woman turned and ran hurriedly into her cottage.
“Come along, Tom,” said Uncle Richard; “we are doing no good here;” and he turned and led the way down toward the gate, with the old woman shrieking out a torrent of words after them, and playing an accompaniment formed of slaps upon the door till they were out of hearing.