ago, and
the sugar bows, sir, she allus wrops 'em up in an owd pocky ankychy."

"There is no water near," said James Ellis, as if to himself, but old
Tummus's ears were sharp enough.

"There's the river."

"Two miles away, Tummus."

"What's two miles to a man who wants to drownd hissen! Why, if I wanted
to mak' a hole in the watter I'd walk twenty."

"Tummus, I will not have you say such dreadful things."

"It's very, very sad, Hannah," said James Ellis at last; "and I'm more
upset about it than I can say, for he was a fine, worthy young fellow,
and as good a gardener as ever stepped."

"That he was," murmured the old couple.

"But we don't know that anything so terrible has happened. Some day
perhaps we shall be hearing news of him."

"Nay, you never hear news o' them as has gone before, Master Ellis, sir.
If I were you, I'd have the pond dragged up at the farm, and watter
dreened off at Jagley's mill."

"No, no," cried the bailiff hastily. "There is no reason for suspecting
such a thing. John Grange was not the man to go and do anything rash.
There, I thought I'd come and have a few words with you, Hannah, and you
too, Tummus. I want you' to hold your tongues, now, and to let this sad
business die a natural death. You understand?"

"Oh yes, sir."

"Chatter grows into bad news sometimes. There, good-evening. I dare
say you'll hear news about the poor fellow some day."

"Nay, we wean't," said old Tummus, when the bailiff was gone. "John
Grange is as dead as a door-nail, and owd Jemmy Ellis knows it too; but
he's scarred of his bairn hearing, and don't want the missus up at the
house to think on it."

"But we don't know that he is dead," said old Hannah.

"Not for sewer," growled old Tummus, beginning to take off his heavy
boots; "and we arn't sewer of a many things. But then, owd Jimmy's as
good as master here, and if you go flying in his face you may just as
well fly over the garden wall same time. I've done, missus. I don't
say who done it, but it's my belief John Grange was put out o' the way."

"Oh, don't, Tummus; you give me the creeps."

"All right, all right, I've done. It's a rum world, and everything goes
wrong in it."

"Not quite everything, dear."

"Well, no, not quite everything, but nearly. I believe it's because it
was made round. Lookye here, missus: how can matters go right on a
thing as has got no sound bottom to stand on? If the world had been
made square it wo