“I did a bit sin.”

Maurice brooded over this, Geoffrey struggled with himself to get out his own news. At last he blurted:

“Tha knows that woman as wor here yis’day dinner — ’er come back, an’ stopped i’ th’ shed a’ night, out o’ th’ rain.”

“Oh — ah!” said Maurice, his eye kindling, and a smile crossing his pallor.

“An’ I s’ll gi’e her some breakfast.”

“Oh — ah!” repeated Maurice.

“It’s th’ man as is good-for-nowt, not her,” protested Geoffrey. Maurice did not feel in a position to cast stones.