Bates nodded.
"That's un," he said.

Then he drove the spade into the rich loam.

"They do say," he added, apparently as an after-thought, "as Fred Elkin is mighty sweet on Doris, but her'll 'ave nowt to do wi' un." Grant whistled softly.

This explanation threw light on a dark place.
"The plot thickens," he said.

"Mr.Elkin becomes more interesting than he looks.