When Chops returned he went directly to Lee's tent.
'Lotty be gone, sir—clean gone hoff.'
'Eh? What! are you mad, boy?'
'W'ich I don't think so, Mr Biffins Lee, an' sir to you.'
'Does not Crona know anything about it?'
'Twixt you an' me an the dooroocoolie, Mr Lee, an' you needn't let it go no furder, I think that it was Crona 'erself that sent Miss Lotty away to live with a great-grandaunt of hers.'
'Great-grandaunt of whom, you fool?'
'Why, Crona's as ever was!'
'Don't stand there and cheek me, or I'll break every bone in your ugly carcass.'