"I were riding by on my laal pony that day, but now I'm going shankum naggum," continued Gubblum, unmindful of the pot-boy's mighty innocent look. "'A canny morning to you, Master Paul,' I shouted, and on I went."
"Then you know his name?" said Jabez, opening wide his drowsy eyes.
"'Master Paul's half his time frae home,' says the chap on t'road. 'Coorse he is,' I says: 'it's me for knowing that,' Ah, I mind it same as it were yesterday. I looked back, and there he was standing at the door, and he just snitit his nose wi' his finger and thoom. Ey, he did, for sure."
Jabez found his conscience abnormally active at that moment. "But I ain't got none," he protested afresh.
"None what?"
"No master."
"That's a lie, my lad, for I see he's been putten a swine ring on yer snout to keep ye frae rooting up the ground."
After this Gubblum sat a good half-hour in silence. Mrs. Drayton came down-stairs and arranged that Gubblum should sleep that night in the house. His bedroom was to be a little room at the back, entered from the vicinity of the ladder that led to the attics.
Gubblum got up, said he was tired, and asked to be shown to his room. Jabez lighted a candle, and they went off together.
"Whereiver does that lead to?" said Gubblum, pointing to the ladder near his bedroom door.