Allan laughed. "Yes," he said, "you are right, I have bought it, for my father, that is——"
"A wunnerful fine place it be!" she said.
"And we shall be near neighbours, eh?"
Again she dropped a curtsey.
"'Tisn't for the like of we to be a neighbour to the like of gentry," she added, "but if any little thing I can du——"
"Be sure I will come and ask you Mrs.——"
"Hanson be my name, sir, as anyone can tell 'ee. Old this cottage be, but there never yet lived in it one whose name was not Hanson. 'Twere Hansons lived here in the days when the Elmacotts lived at the Manor, Hansons hev been servants there, always served the Elmacotts, they did, and if, sir, there be any little thing that we can du——"
"You are very good!" Allan said.
"A dear talkative old soul," he thought; he held out a friendly hand to her and she blushed at the honour and bobbed him a dozen curtseys as he went his way.
"Betty, Betty, my maid, Betty, come 'ee here, Betty, where be 'ee? Come here!" cried Mrs. Hanson, when Allan had gone.