"This es a very loanly caave. I thot nobody knawed anything 'bout et, 'ciptin' our chaps and Betsey and Eli."
"Betsey?"
"Iss, aw Betsey do knaw everything. Besides, Granfer Fraddam was—you zee et do run in the family!"
I said nothing, but I called to mind many things I had heard Betsey say.
"Anything might be done 'ere, an' nobody the wiser," he said with a leer.
"Yes."
"But I'm a man of paice, I be. A stiddy, thinkin' sort ov man as you may zay. I shudden like for nothin' to 'appen to you, Jasper. Tha's wy I stopped 'em jist now. 'ow be 'ee thinkin' to git the money to buy back Pennington, Jasper? 'T'll be a stiff job, I tell 'ee."
I did not reply.
"I've 'eerd oal 'bout et, Jasper. Ah, I've knowd they Tresidders for a good long while. Deep, deep, sonny, you ca'an't git 'em nohow. Besides, 'twas 'ard that you shud zee thicky purty maid for the fust time when you was covered with mud, and egg yuks, and fastened on to that gashly thing, wad'n et then?"
I gave a start, and I felt my face crimson.