"I thought maybe I'd find her here," he said. "I ain't seen her since
breakfast."

"There's other places she could have gone besides here. Maybe she's gone
shopping in Romney and forgot to tell you."

"It's queer her starting off like that without a word--and she's took
her liddle bag and a few bits of things with her too."

"What things?--Arthur! Why couldn't you tell me that before?"

"I was going to.... I'm feeling a bit anxious, Jo.... I've a feeling
she's gone after that Old Squire."

"You dare say such a thing! Arthur, I'm ashamed of you, believing such a
thing of your wife and my sister."

"Well, she was unaccountable set on him."

"Nonsense! He just amused her. It's you whose wife she is."

"She's scarce given me a word more'n in the way of business, as you
might say, this last three month. And she won't let me touch her."

"Why didn't you tell me this before?"

"I didn't want to trouble you, and I thought maybe it was a private
matter."

"You should have told me the drackly minute Ellen started not to treat
you proper. I'd have spoken to her.... Now we're in for a valiant
terrification."

"I'm unaccountable sorry, Jo."

"How long has she been gone?"

"Since around nine. I went out to see the tegs, counting them up to go
inland, and when I came in for dinner the gal told me as Ellen had gone
out soon after breakfast, and had told her to see as I got my dinner, as
she wouldn't be back."

"Why didn't you start after her at once?"

"Well, I made sure as she'd gone to you. Then I began to think over
things and put 'em together, and I found she'd taken her liddle bag, and
I got scared. I never liked her seeing such a lot of that man."

"Then why didn't you stop it?"

"How could I?"

"I could have--and the way people talked.... I'd have locked her up
sooner than ... well, it's too late now ... the boat went at twelve. Oh,
Arthur, why didn't you watch her properly? Why did you let her go like
that? Think of it! What's to become of her--away in foreign parts with a
man who ain't her husband ... my liddle Ellen ... oh, it's
turble--turble--"

Her speech suddenly roughened into the Doric of the Marsh, and she sat
down heavily, dropping her head to her knees.

"Joanna--don't, don't ... don't take on, Jo."

He had not seen her cry before, and now she frightened him. Her
shoulders heaved, and great panting sobs shook her broad back.

"My liddle Ellen ... my treasure, my duckie ... oh, why have