'Oh dear, oh dear, though!' she exclaimed; 'I were wiring a rabbit.'
'Joyce, I want a word with you.'
'You can have scores; as many as you wants.'
'I know. A woman is free of her words. You must tell me the truth now, my little maid, for a good deal depends on it.'
'Did I ever tell'y a lie, now?' asked Joyce, offended. 'You may cut me in pieces afore I'll say other than what be true to you.'
'What I want to know, Joyce, is, where did your father get that shekel?'
'I don't know what that be.'
'A silver coin. He says he found three or four here under one of the stones of the Table. There is a branch on one side, and on the other a cup with a flame rising out of it.'
'I never seed nothing of the sort, nowhere.'
'Your father says that he gave them to you, and that you lost all, except one which he retained and sold to Mr. Flamank.'