Rumour said--I wonder where such rumours first have their rise--that Willy Gum had fallen into some trouble, and the clerk had had to buy him out of it at the cost of a mint of money.

The clerk, however, did not confirm this; and one thing was indisputable: Willy retained his place in the banking-house.

Some people looked on this fact as a complete refutation of the rumour.
Then came a lull.

Nothing was heard of Willy; that is, nothing beyond the reports of Mrs.Gum to her gossips when letters arrived: he was well, and getting on well.

It was only the lull that precedes a storm; and a storm indeed burst on quiet Calne.