It must be a rare business to take him there in the middle of the week; for he can't abide to leave the farm in working-hours, except when he's right down obliged to it.

Nothing goes on the same when his back's turned, he says; there's always something wrong.

And if it was an appointment with any one belonging to Malsham, why couldn't it have stood over till Saturday?
It must be something out of the common that won't keep a couple of days." Mrs.Tadman went on with her knitting, gazing at Ellen with an expectant countenance, waiting for her to make some suggestion.

But the girl was quite silent, and there was a blank expression in her eyes, which looked out across the level stretch of grass between the house and the river, a look that told Mrs.Tadman very few of her words had been heard by her companion.

It was quite disheartening to talk to such a person; but the widow went on nevertheless, being so full of her subject that she must needs talk to some one, even if that some one were little better than a stock or a stone.
"There was a letter that came for Stephen before dinner to-day; he got it when he came in, but it was lying here for an hour first.