"Indeed!"
"Yes, sir, oh, you haven't an idea."
"I think I have. Who is this Minna Gray, who so enthralled his boyish fancy?"
"Why, she's widow Gray's only child, and they live in Milford Lane, close to the Temple, you see, and even Tobias used to go with me to drink tea with Mrs. Gray, as we was both bequeathed women in a world of trouble."
"You were what?"
"Bequeathed."
"Bereaved you mean, I suppose, Mrs. Ragg; but how could you tell me that you knew of no means of moving Tobias's feelings. This Minna Gray, if he really loves her, is the very thing."
"Lor, sir. What do you mean?"
"Why, I mean that if you can get this Minna Gray here, the possibility is that it will be the recovery of Tobias. At all events, it is the only chance of that kind that presents itself. If that fails, we must only trust to time. How old is this girl?"
"About fourteen, sir, and though I say it—"