“Now, there you are again,” the other voice replied, “you never can keep a civil tongue in your head.”
“Why that is Andrew Woolridge and Thomas Carluke,” Aline exclaimed. “What are they doing down here?”
Andrew and Thomas were two of the men from the Hall and Aline knew that at this time of day they ought to be at work.
“They are up to no good I’ll be bound,” said Janet.
“Andrew Woolridge seems to be doing a good thing for himself somehow, mother,” said John. “I wonder where he got all that meal he has been bringing home from the mill lately; I saw him with a boll early this morn and he brought two bolls yesterday and two the day before.”
“Ay, John, and I saw him the day before that with a boll.”
“He must have enough for the winter and some to sell too, if he has been going on at that rate, mother.”
“Ay, that must be, but I should not like to be the one to ask him where he got the oats he has been so busy carrying to the mill.”
“It is time I was going,” said Aline, and bidding them good-bye, she turned homeward, pondering on her way what she had heard.
“I fancy that the oats will come from Holwick,” she thought to herself. “I wonder if he is still taking them,” and she resolved that she would herself keep an eye on Andrew and Thomas.