A young woman opened it.
"If you please," Ned said, "I have come to see Bill; the doctor said he would see me.

It was I who hurt him, but indeed I didn't mean to do it." "A noice bizness yoi've made of it atween ee," the woman said, but in a not unkind voice.

"Who'd ha' thought as Bill would ha' got hurted by such a little un as thou be'st; but coom in, he will be main glad to see ee, and thy feyther ha' been very good in sending up all sorts o' things for him.

He's been very nigh agooing whoam, but I believe them things kept un from it." The cottage contained but two rooms.

In a corner of the living room, into which Ned followed the woman, Bill Swinton lay upon a bed which Captain Sankey had sent up.