“Father, poor Mistress Ray would be turned into the roads—they'd have no pity, none.”
“I'll uphod thee that's true,” said Sim. “It staggers me.”
“We must find Ralph, and at once too,” said Rotha.
“Find him? He's gone, but Heaven knows where.”
“Father, if I were a man, I'd find him, God knows I would.”
“It's nigh about the worst as could have happened, it is,” said Sim.
“The worst will be to come if we do not find him.”
“But how? where? Following him will be the rule o' thumb,” said Sim.
“You said he took the road over the Raise,” said Rotha. “He'll not go far, depend upon that. The horse has not been caught. Ralph is among the mountains yet, take my word for it, father.”
“It's bad weather to trapes the fells, Rotha. The ground is all slush and sladderment.”