Then Elizabeth spoke and there was a note of relief in her voice. "Well, I'm reerly glad to 'ear that, as I can go off to-morrer after all. I 'aven't been for my 'oliday yet, like."
"What do you mean?" I gasped.
"Well, you see, 'm, my young man didn't turn up at the station, so I went and stayed with my sister-in-law at Islington. She wants me to go with 'er to Southend early to-morrer, but I thort as 'ow I'd better come back 'ere first and see if you reerly could manage without me, for I 'ad my doubts. 'Owever, as everythink's goin' on orl right I can go with an easy mind."
I remained speechless. So did Henry. Elizabeth went out again into the darkness. There was a long pause, broken only by my hay fever. Then Henry spoke. "Can't you stop that everlasting sniffing?" he barked out. "It's driving me mad, woman."
OUR VILLAGE SOLOMON.
First Rustic. "D'ye 'ear old Daddy Smith's cottage was burnt down last night?"
Second Rustic (of matured wisdom). "I bean't surprised. When I sees the smoke a-coming through the thatch I sez to myself, 'There's seldom smoke without fire.'"