Gubblum Oglethorpe entered.
"The men on the twelve o'clock shift are just about ganging down, and they want to tak' a few mair forks with them. They've telt me 'at the timber is splitting like matchwood under the sandy vein."
Hugh Ritson made an effort to gather the purport of Gubblum's message.
"Tell them to take the forks," he said in a low tone.
Gubblum was backing out, and stopped.
"I reckon thoo's not heard the last frae auld Mattha's," he said in another voice.
"What is it, Oglethorpe?" said Hugh, his head bent over the table.
"Robbie South'et's wife has been up to t' brow, and says that Mercy's laal thing is gone."
Hugh did not lift his eyes.
"Is that the last?" he said.