"No doubt. But what about the 'millionairess'?"
"Oh, well, it's this way. Squire Vivian's butler told long Joseph—that's Sir Charles's butler, you know—and he told the housekeeper, and she told Sarah Jelks—who is housemaid at the Hall—and she told Siah Small—who pretends to be courting her—and he told Dick Beswarick, and he told his wife Susan, and she told me, that he heard the family talking about it one day at dinner——."
"Who heard the family——?"
"Squire Vivian's butler, of course."
"Yes, go on."
"Well, he heard them saying that it would be the best day's work the Captain ever did if he got married, as the girl had no end of dollars."
"How did they know?"
"Very likely Sir Charles told them. Those big folks may be as close as oysters to the poor, but they talk to each other."
"Well, Mrs. Tuke, and what is the inference you draw from all this?"
"I don't draw no inference at all. I don't pretend to be anything but a plain woman, and I only put two and two together, though Miss Grover did say my curtains was a treat."