'Why, who'd have thought of this here honour! Walk in, Muster Gashford--walk in, sir.' Gashford required no second invitation, and entered with a gracious air.
There was a fire in the rusty grate (for though the spring was pretty far advanced, the nights were cold), and on a stool beside it Hugh sat smoking.

Dennis placed a chair, his only one, for the secretary, in front of the hearth; and took his seat again upon the stool he had left when he rose to give the visitor admission.
'What's in the wind now, Muster Gashford ?' he said, as he resumed his pipe, and looked at him askew.

'Any orders from head-quarters?
Are we going to begin?
What is it, Muster Gashford ?' 'Oh, nothing, nothing,' rejoined the secretary, with a friendly nod to Hugh.

'We have broken the ice, though.

We had a little spurt to-day--eh, Dennis ?' 'A very little one,' growled the hangman.