“Oh! that was it. Thou never wast out of England?”
“No, madam.”
“And thy captain?”
“That’s the present Squire Chillington, madam. I wor his servant many years while in the regiment.”
“And how camest thee to leave him?”
Tom looked significant; a smile stole round his mouth. “Well, the captain, ma’am, left me.”
“Oh, indeed! I hope thou hast not offended him justly, anyway?”
“No, madam, oh no! not in the least; but people may know too much, and it is inconvenient.”
There was some laughter. “Chillington, we all know, has been a very wild fellow,” said Mr. Woodburn; “was it not so, Tom?”
“True, sir, true,” said Tom.