"I do not," she replied, "but 'a will come home-along in a day or two, to be sure. He loves his home, does Doubledick."
"Well, you ought to know, if anybody."
"Hey, my sonnies," said a voice at the door, and Petherick entered. "I be come to jine ye in yer laughter and merrymakin'."
"Then you be come the wrong road," said Tonkin gloomily. "We be downcast and dismal."
"Ay, mumchanced and mumblechopped," added Nathan Pendry.
"You do surprise me! Never did I see anything that tickled my ribs so much as they two King's servants lashed to the holy bell. I don't care who the man is, 'twas a merry notion. But good now! I know what yer dark thoughts be. 'T'ud make angels weep and wail, so 'twould. To think that Cuby's ghost will walk never more!"
"Oh, Cuby's ghost be jowned! If ye do know anything, tell it out without hawkin' and spettin', constable," said Tonkin.
"Well, neighbour Doubledick be a lost soul this day, that's sartin," said Petherick.
"My Billy be dead!" shrieked Mrs. Doubledick, sinking into a chair and rocking herself to and fro.
"No, no, Mistress," said Petherick. "It bean't gone so far as that. Dry yer eyes, woman. He bean't a corp, 's far 's I do know, but never will ye see un again, no, never."