“Don’t know. Not afore afternoon.”
“Because we shall want some of the starch to-day. There’s none to go on with, is there, Eunice?”
“Yes, there’s a bit. I can make it do.”
“You’ll have to wait till you get it,” remarked Stephen as he pushed his plate away and rose from table. “And mind you don’t forget to give the pigs their dinner.”
“What’ll be wanted up there to-day?” inquired Becca, pointing towards some invisible place over-head, possibly intending to indicate the tower.
“Nothing but dinner,” said Stephen. “What should there be? I shall be back afore tea-time.”
He went out at the back-door as he spoke, gave a keen look or two around his yard and premises generally, to see that all was right, and presently trotted away on horseback. A few minutes later, Jim, the only regular man kept, was seen to cross the yard towards the lane with the horse and cart.
“Where be you off to, Jim?” demanded Becca, stalking to the door and speaking at the top of her voice.
“Master ordered me to go after that load o’ manure,” called back Jim, standing upright in the cart and arresting the horse for a moment.