"They are pretty things, guineas," thought Wood, "and tell no tales, like bank-bills." And he thought over the days when he and Macshane used to ride abroad in search of them.
I don't know what thoughts entered into Mr.Wood's brain; but the next day, after seeing young Billings, to whom he actually made a present of a guinea, that young man, in conversing with his mother, said, "Do you know, mother, that if you were free, and married the Count, I should be a lord?
It's the German law, Mr.Wood says; and you know he was in them countries with Marlborough." "Ay, that he would," said Mr.Wood, "in Germany: but Germany isn't England; and it's no use talking of such things." "Hush, child!" said Mrs.Hayes, quite eagerly: "how can _I_ marry the Count?
Besides, a'n't I married, and isn't he too great a lord for me ?" "Too great a lord ?--not a whit, mother.

If it wasn't for Hayes, I might be a lord now.

He gave me five guineas only last week; but curse the skinflint who never will part with a shilling." "It's not so bad as his striking your mother, Tom.

I had my stick up, and was ready to fell him t'other night," added Mr.Wood.And herewith he smiled, and looked steadily in Mrs.Catherine's face.

She dared not look again; but she felt that the old man knew a secret that she had been trying to hide from herself.