'The 'edge wanted doing.'
His tone was so innocent that Reddin was suspicious.
'You didn't bring her yourself, did you?'
'Now, is it me,' said Vessons, reasonable but hurt, 'as generally brings these packs of unruly women to Undern?'
'I believe you're lying, Vessons.'
Vessons opened his mouth to say, 'Notice is giv''; but seeing that in his master's present mood it might be accepted, he closed it again.
When Reddin went in, Sally was gone, and Hazel, much as usual, ministered to his comfort. The only signs of the recent tumult were the constrained silence and the array of cups and plates.
'You'd better understand once and for all,' he said at last, 'that I'll never have that woman here.'
'Not if I went?'
'Never! I'd kill her first.'