was that he would be able to pump his father more thoroughly in his
present weak state than he might do in a later part of the afternoon;
so he persevered.

"But, governor, it's so important we should know what we're about.
Did you see any one else except himself?"

"I saw them all I believe, except her. I was told she never showed
in the morning; but I'm blessed if I don't think I saw the skirt of
her dress through an open door. I'll tell you what, Aby, I could not
stand that."

"Perhaps, father, after hall it'll be better I should manage the
business down there."

"I believe there won't be much more to manage. But, Aby, do leave me
now, there's a good fellow; then in another hour or so I'll get up,
and we'll have it all out."

"When you're out in the open air and comfortable, it won't be fair
to be bothering you with business. Come, governor, ten minutes will
tell the whole of it if you'll only mind your eye. How did you begin
with Sir Thomas?" And then Aby went to the door, opened it very
gently, and satisfied himself that there was nobody listening on the
landing-place.

Mr. Mollett sighed wearily, but he knew that his only hope was to get
this job of talking over. "What was it you were saying, Aby?"

"How did you begin with Sir Thomas?"

"How did I begin with him? Let me see. Oh! I just told him who I was;
and then he turned away and looked down under the fire like, and I
thought he was going to make a faint of it."

"I didn't suppose he would be very glad to see you, governor."

"When I saw how badly he took it, and how wretched he seemed, I
almost made up my mind to go away and never trouble him any more."

"You did, did you?"

"And just to take what he'd choose to give me."

"Oh, them's your hideas, hare they? Then I tell you what; I shall
just take the matter into my own hands hentirely. You have no more
'eart than a chicken."

"Ah, that's very well, Aby; but you did not see him."

"Do you think that would make hany difference? When a man's a job of
work to do, 'e should do it. Them's my notions. Do you think a man
like that is to go and hact in that way, and then not pay for it?
Whose wife is she I'd like to know?"

There was a tone of injured justice about Aby which almost roused the
father to participate in the son's indignation. "Well; I did my best,
though the old gentleman was in such a taking," said he.

"And what was your best? Come, out with it at once."

"I--m-m. I--just told