She had resolved to pay an early call on old Hodder, if not to relieve his mind about the eviction, at least to take him some comfort in the shape of a little tea and sugar.
The old man was sitting outside the cottage, smoking and moaning to himself.

He cheered up a bit at the sight of his visitor, still more at the sight of the tea.

But it was a short-lived gleam of comfort, and he relapsed at the earliest opportunity into the doleful.
"Little good it'll do me," said he, "as have known this place, man and boy, seventy-five years, Missy.

Never a word did they say to me till now.

The old squire had allers his nod for Hodder, and when times was bad he let the rent stand.