I wonder if Monsieur What-is-it ?--Gard--would come back if I could arrange it ?" But Nance shook her head again.
"Ah--ha, ma garche, and you would sooner he did not--is it not so ?" "I'm quite sure he and Tom would never get on together, and I don't think Mr.Gard would come." "It's worth trying, however.

He would be some one to talk to of an evening any way." And so, when Tom came in that evening, she tackled him on the subject.
"Say then, mon beau,"-- and as she said it she could not but contrast his slouching bulk with the straight, well-knit figure of the other--"why should we not take in a lodger as all the rest do?
Our two rooms there are empty and--" "Who's the lodger ?" "There is one comes up every day to dinner next door, and would stop there altogether if they had the room.

Tiens, what's this his name is?
He's from the mines--" "You mean Gard--the manager," scowled Tom.
"That's it--Monsieur Gard.

Why shouldn't he--" "Because I'd break his head if I got the chance, and he knows it.

Comes up there to dinner, does he?
How long's he been doing that ?" "For a week now.