The first was Roy, the bailiff.

Upon Roy's leaving Verner's Pride, after the rebuke bestowed upon him by its heir, he had gone straight down to the George and Dragon, a roadside inn, situated on the outskirts of the village, on the road from Verner's Pride.

Here he had remained, consorting with droppers-in from Deerham, and soothing his mortification with a pipe and sundry cans of ale.

When the news was brought in that Rachel Frost was drowned in the Willow-pond, Roy, the landlord, and the company collectively, started off to see.
"Why, it _is_ her!" uttered Roy, taking a hasty view of poor Rachel.

"I said it wasn't possible.