an nature, that we all know
folk so cruel dull in mind and body that an instinct rises in us to flee
from 'em at sight and never go where there's a chance of running across
'em. It ain't Christian, but everybody knows such deadly characters none
the less, and you might say without straining charity, that Mrs. Pedlar
was such a one.

Being a widow she had that triumphant fact to show how somebody had found
her interesting enough to wed, and there's no doubt, by God's all-seeing
goodness, the dull people do find each other out and comfort one another.

Jane Pedlar couldn't have been particular dreadful to Noah Pedlar else he
wouldn't have married her and stopped with her, for they was thirty years
wed before he dropped, and though she was too dull to have any childer, or
ever larn to cook a mutton chop so as a man could eat it with pleasure,
yet she held him. He didn't leave much money, because he never earned
much, yet he did a pretty good stroke for Jane before he died, and got his
employer, Farmer Bewes, to let Jane bide safe in her cottage for her
lifetime.

There weren't nothing written between master and man; but Nicholas Bewes,
who owned the place, came to see Noah Pedlar on his death-bed, and when
Noah put up a petition for Mrs. Pedlar to be allowed to bide rent free to
her end, Bewes, who was a bit on the sentimental side and minded that the
old chap had worked for him and his father before him for more than half a
century, promised that Jane might have the use of the house for her life.

Noah Pedlar had never rose to be farmer's right-hand man or anything like
that. He was a humble creature, faithful unto death, but no use away from
hedge-tacking and such rough jobs; yet he'd done his duty according to his
limits, however narrow they might be, and so he got his way on his
death-bed, and, in the sudden surprise that such a landmark as Noah was
going home, Farmer Bewes gave his promise.

But that was twenty year agone, and Nicholas Bewes had grown oldish
himself now, and Jane was thought to be nearer eighty than seventy by her
neighbours. Friends she had not, except for Mrs. Cobley; but there's no
doubt, though a much younger woman, Mary Cobley had a sort of feeling for
Jane; and there was Milly Boon also--Jane's orphan niece, who lived along
with her and kept house for her. She was a good friend too.

The adventure began, you may say, when a returned native came back to
Little Silver, and 'twas Mary Cobley's