'I've not done this all in a day once for all, but I've been a foot all to-day, I can tell'y. It were hard walking. But see——' she held out her feet; they were stockinged and shod. 'Bain't that vitty' (tidy), 'and bain't I peart' (smart)? 'You should ha' seen mun, though, when they was new and beautiful; but I've a been so stogged in snow that they be now wetted through and through, and all their beauty washed out of 'em.'
'You have walked here?' Herring was coming out of his dazed condition into one of wonder at Joyce.
'Sure I have. I'll tell'y all about it, but I must sit me down by the fire; I be that stiff and tired I can scarce stand.'
'Joyce, what is the meaning of your coming?'
'I'll tell'y all right on end from beginning till now. I sed I'd a been working for Farmer Facey to Coombow.'
'What for?'
'Did you not hear me say it? He lent his waggon to dray you home to West Wyke, after you was nigh upon killed.'
'Well, what then?'
'Sure he wanted to be paid for it. There were a waggon and two horses for a day, and there were that boy, Jim White, along of them.'
'Why did you not tell me? I would have paid.'