He came of a rather illiterate family with aspirations, and when he was nervous he had a habit of relapsing into the dialect in common use in his own home, regardless of his educational attainments.

He did so now.
"I think she has went to New York," he said.
"Who ?" demanded Wollaston, eagerly.

His head was up like a hunting hound; he kept close hold of Maria's little arm.
"Her." "Who ?" "Her little sister-in-law." Edwin pointed to Maria.
Gladys Mann went peremptorily up to Edwin Shaw, seized his coat-collar, and shook him.

"For goodness sake! when did she went ?" she demanded.

"When did you see her?
If you know anythin', tell it, an' not stand thar like a fool!" "I saw a little girl jest about her size, a-carryin' of a doll, that clim on the New York train jest as we went out this mornin'," replied Edwin with a gasp, as if the information were wrung from him by torture.