To this Timothy replied savagely:
“You’ll be wiser afore you’re older.”
Nicodemus interrupted sharply:
“Timothy Farleigh’ll be dead afore he’s wise at all Now, Garge, I minds me that Doctor Grimshaw walked off Wilverley way. If that bit o’ news be worth a tankard, don’t ’ee forget it, my good man.”
“You might ha’ said as much five minutes ago.”
He mounted his bicycle and sped off.
Nicodemus, active of mind and unduly elated because ale had impaired underpinning, instead of understanding, was now the centre of a small group of women, children and gaffers. Everybody else, of course, was watching the fire in the Hall gardens, or helping to remove furniture. From the first none dared even to hope that so old a house, so heavily timbered, could escape being burnt to the ground.
Martha Giles said mournfully:
“Her ladyship, pore dear soul, ’ll be lacking shelter.”
By the luck of things, she addressed this innocent remark to Timothy, who remained at his wicket gate, sullenly rejoicing over this great calamity. He replied harshly: