'Gie me pen and ink, Davy, an let me go.'
The young man brought it him without a word. Reuben put in the address.
'Ha yo read it, Davy?'
David started. In his absorption he had forgotten to read it.
'I wor forced to write it i' the top sheepfold,' Reuben began to explain apologetically, then stopped suddenly. Several times he had been on the point of bringing Hannah into the conversation, and had always refrained. He refrained now. David read it. It was written in Reuben's most laborious business style, and merely requested that Mr. Gurney would now communicate with Sandy's son direct on the subject of his father's money. He had left Needham Farm, and was old enough to take counsel himself with Mr. Gurney in future as to what should be done with it.
Reuben looked over David's shoulder as he read.
'An Louie?' he said uncertainly, at the end, jerking his thumb towards her.
'I'm stayin here,' said Louie peremptorily, still looking out of window.
Reuben said nothing. Perhaps a shade of relief lightened his old face.
When the letter was handed back to him, he sealed it and put it into his pocket, buttoning up his coat for departure.