Seeing no possible injury to Rosanna if I owned the truth, I answered that the girl had come to us rather sparely provided with linen, and that my lady, in recompense for her good conduct (I laid a stress on her good conduct), had given her a new outfit not a fortnight since.
"This is a miserable world," says the Sergeant.

"Human life, Mr.
Betteredge, is a sort of target--misfortune is always firing at it, and always hitting the mark.

But for that outfit, we should have discovered a new nightgown or petticoat among Rosanna's things, and have nailed her in that way.

You're not at a loss to follow me, are you?
You have examined the servants yourself, and you know what discoveries two of them made outside Rosanna's door.

Surely you know what the girl was about yesterday, after she was taken ill?
You can't guess?
Oh dear me, it's as plain as that strip of light there, at the end of the trees.