"If I was your wife I'd do the same." Whereupon Tom snarled again with rage, "She'd better let me catch her trying it on, that's all," he said, threateningly, and glared at his wife, as though she had threatened to do so.
A little way beyond the village they drew up, and without troubling to ask anyone's leave Tom drove the van into a field,--where they had no possible right to be, and poor tired Charlie and his tired mistress were left to themselves for, at any rate, a few minutes' peace.
The two men walked on again in silence until they reached the top of Woodend Lane, There Bob Thorp drew up, and showed a decided disinclination to go any further.
"'Tis down there they live, the first cottage you come to; you can't mistake it.

There's only an old woman, I b'lieve, besides the girl and the dog.

I'd better keep away, 'cause they knows me, leastways the girl does, and--and the dog.

If you'll hand over that six bob now, I'll be getting home.

I've got a good step to go yet." Tom Smith agreed almost pleasantly.