“It’s all right,” said Bumpus, who quickly recovered his composure—indeed he had never lost much of it. “I’ve bin down to Saunder’s store and got the ropes for your—”
“Hush! man, there is no need of telling me what they are for,” said Henry, with a mysterious look at his mother.
“Why not tell me all, Henry?” said Mrs Stuart; “surely you can trust me?”
“Trust you, mother?” replied the youth with a smile, “I should think so; but there are reasons for my not telling you everything just now. Surely you can trust me? I have told you as much as I think advisable in the meantime. Ere long I will tell you all.”
The widow sighed and was fain to rest content. She sat down beside the tree while her companions talked together apart in low tones.
“Now Jo, my man,” continued Henry, “one of our friends must be got out of the way.”
“Wery good; I’m the man as’ll do it.”
“Of course I don’t mean that he’s to be killed!”
“In coorse not. Who is he?”
“Ole Thorwald.”