If they could irritate her by speaking lightly of her mistress, she might give out some information which would solve the mystery.
One night a servant of one of the neighbors stopped Martha on the road and sent her flying home; not angry, but terrified.
"They're beginnin' to talk," she broke out savagely, as she entered Jane's room, her breath almost gone from her run to the house.

"I laughed at it and said they dare not one of 'em say it to your face or mine, but they're beginnin' to talk." "Is it about Barton Holt?
have they heard anything from him ?" asked Jane.

The fear of his return had always haunted her.
"No, and they won't.

He'll never come back here ag'in.

The captain would kill him." "It isn't about Lucy, then, is it ?" cried Jane, her color going.
Martha shook her head in answer to save her breath.
"Who, then ?" cried Jane, nervously.