“Well, wun’t ’ee come an’ sit down, sir?”
“Thank’ee, Mrs. Ann, I will ... but where, mam?”
“Here for sure!” she answered, drawing her neat gown aside and tapping the rustic seat with one finger. So the Corporal laid by his hat and, seating himself beside her, remained for a space apparently lost in contemplation of his riding-boots.
“You be very silent, Mus’ Robert.”
“Aye ... I’m thinking, mam.”
“What about?” she inquired softly, stealing a sly glance at his down-bent face.
“I was a-thinking, mam, as this be a world o’ change. Aye, life has changed and is a-changing for me con-siderable!”
“What do ’ee mean, sir?”
“I mean, Mrs. Ann, that I have lost my place as Sir John’s valet——”