ener.

"I see Muster Dan Barnett come away from the conservatory all in a hurry
like, d're'ckly after you'd been there."

"You saw Dan Barnett?"

"Aye, that's so. I see him: did it out o' spite 'cause the missus
didn't give him the job."

"Tummus, what are you a-saying of?" cried his wife, as the old man's
words made Grange start excitedly from his chair. "Why, if Dan'l
Barnett heared as you said that, you'd be turned away at a moment's
notice."

"I don't keer; it's the solomon truth," said old Tummus, cutting off a
cubic piece of pork and lifting it from his bread with the point of his
pruning-knife.

"It can't be anything of the sort, so hold your tongue. There, there,
Mr Grange, my dear. Don't you take any notice of his silly clat. Have
another cup of tea: here's quite a beauty left."

"You say you saw Daniel Barnett come from the conservatory that
morning?" cried Grange excitedly; and there was a wild look of agony in
his eyes as he spoke.

"Nay, nay, he didn't, my dear," cried old Hannah; "it's all his
nonsense. Just see what you've done, Tummus, with your rubbishing
stuff."

"Aye, but I did see him come out, and I see him go in all of a hurry
like," said old Tummus sturdily.

"Where were you?"

"In the shrubbery, raking up the dead leaves as he told me to the night
afore, and forgotten as I was there so near."

"And you were busy raking the leaves?" said Grange.

"Nay, I warn't; I was a-watching on him, and left off, for I didn't see
what he wanted there."

"No, no, it's impossible; he would have been so careful," said Grange
hurriedly.

"Keerful?" cried old Tummus contemptuously: "he did it o' purpose. I
know: out o' spite."

"Tummus, you're driving us in a coach and four into the workhouse,"
cried his wife passionately.

"Good job too. I don't keer. I say Dan Barnett did it out o' spite,
and I'll go straight to the missus and tell her."

"No," said John Grange sternly. "Not a word. What you say is
impossible. Daniel Barnett does not like me, and he resents my being
here, but he could not have been guilty of so cowardly, so contemptible
an act."

"Burr-urr!" growled old Tummus; "wouldn't he? I know."

"Whatever you know," said John Grange sternly, "you must keep to
yourself."

"What, and let the missus think you done it?"

"The truth comes to the surface some time or another," said John Grange
very firmly. "I cannot believe this is the truth, but even if it is I
forb