"Well, it is something; it is indeed a great deal," Mrs. Jones emphasised oracularly.
"And what is it, what do you know of them, or the people here what do they say?"
"Well, they say, putting this and that together, and some hints from the servant that comes down to order things up from the town—for servants, you know, will be talking—that the family is mad."
"Mad!" echoed Cleve.
"That's what they say."
"The whole family are mad! and yet continue to manage their affairs as they do! By Jove, it is a comfort to find that people can get on without heads, on emergency."
"They don't say, no, dear me! that all that's in the house are mad; only the old man and the young lady."
"And what is she mad upon?"
"Well, they don't say. I don't know—melancholy I do suppose."
"And what is the old gentleman's name?"