forty, who adored him, ran gladly to the window to look. She was glad when he asked her for anything. She craned her head over the short curtain, the little tight knob of her black hair sticking out pathetically as she bobbed about.

“Oh why” — she lifted her head and peered with her twisted, keen brown eyes — ”why, you know who it is — it's her from th' vicarage — you know — ”

“How do I know, you hen-bird,” he shouted.

Tilly blushed and drew her neck in and looked at him with her squinting, sharp, almost reproachful look.

“Why you do — it's the new housekeeper.”

“Ay — an' what by that?”