“Seen whom, my dear?”
“Mr. Brook.”
“Mr. Brook! Do you mean William Brook? He is not back, is he?”
“Yes, he is back,” she answered. “I thought you might have seen him: you spoke of the return of the truant.”
“Why, child, I meant you,” explained the Squire. “Nobody else. Who says William Brook is back?”
“Oh, I say it,” returned Ellin, her cheeks all rosy dimples. “He reached Worcester yesterday.”
“And where is he now?” cried the Squire, feeling a little at sea.
“He is here, at Timberdale,” answered Ellin. “Mr. St. George drove him home last night.”
“There!” cried Tod with startling emphasis. “There, father, please not to disparage my sight any more.”
Well, what do you think of this for another complication? It took me aback. The Squire rubbed his face, and stared.