“By hearsay,” he told the virgin pungently. “But I meant the middle word.”
She eyed it closely. “You’re always bragging your knowledge. I’m not at the Grammar myself and Greek is Greek to me. Fat lot of good it’ud be in a weaving-shed, and all.” She had a practical mind.
“This isn’t Greek,” he said, “it’s English.”
“It’s not the sort of English we talk in Manchester, choose how.”
“I’ll tell you what it means.”
“Wait till you’re asked, cheeky.”
He didn’t wait. “It means surreptitious.”
“I’m a grand sight the wiser for that. It’ll mean a thick ear for you if you don’t stop coming the schoolmaster over me. I’m here to talk to Madge, not to you.”
He winked at Sarah with the eye which was hidden from Madge. “The Secret Marriage, Sarah. That’s what it means.”
Sarah was interested now. “Does it tell you how to work it?”