I am at fault." Richard Hare bent forward till his black whiskers brushed Mr.Carlyle's shoulder.

"It was that cursed Thorn." Mr.Carlyle remembered the name Barbara had mentioned.

"Who was Thorn?
I never heard of him." "Neither had anybody else, I expect, in West Lynne.

He took precious good care of that.

He lives some miles away, and used to come over in secret." "Courting Afy ?" "Yes, he did come courting her," returned Richard, in a savage tone.
"Distance was no barrier.