The maid, who was well aware that her master and the Twins were not on friendly terms, admitted them with some hesitation.

The Twins had never entered the farmer's house before, though they had often entered his orchard; and they felt slightly uncomfortable.

They found the parlor into which they were shown uncommonly musty.
Presently Mr.Stubbs came to them, pulling doubtfully at the Newgate fringe that ran bristling under his chin, with a look of deep suspicion in his small, ferrety, red-rimmed eyes.

Even when he learned that they had come on business, his face did not brighten till the Terror incidentally dropped a sovereign on the floor and talked of cash payments.

Then his face shone; he made the admission, cautiously, that he might be induced to sell skim-milk; and then they came to the discussion of prices.