"To think of such a maiden being flung to a man she hates!"
"Stuff! She'll come round same as her betters afore her. He'll make her like him. Ban't he made o' money? Us all know that he be."
"She's wept tears against him a thousand times. She's a Malherb too, with all her father's strength of will and fifty times his sense. She won't wed against her heart for any man."
"What do you know about her heart, Jack Lee? You'll be wise not to open your mouth so wide; else you'm like to lose your job."
"Nor me neither. The man who would rob the poor would sell his darter to the rich. His damn stone walls stretch out all around yon valleys now, an' my cows get the fat of the pasture no more. I wish I could fret the flesh off his bones for it."
"Mr. Malherb has got his troubles and so much the more he wants to have his daughter off his hands and be free of her. The madness of the man! I learned from Kekewich, who is a very good friend to me, that he has already asked Norcot for his first-born to make him master of Fox Tor in the time to come. He looks that far ahead."
"It shan't be while I live and can stand between her and the ruin of all her young life. I'm a man now--I----"
"Since when did you larn to talk so fine? An' who taught 'e?"
"Miss Malherb has been pleased to polish my speech. We--we are very good friends, thank God."
Lovey reflected over this curious remark. Then the matter in her mind was suddenly echoed upon his tongue and he put the familiar question.
"Grandmother, when are you going to tell me my father's name? I weary of asking you."
"You'm travelling fast," she answered; "long rides, an' mended speech, an' what else? She finds you're fair to see--'tis natural. Yet 'twill dash this crack-brained foolery when you know what you crave to know. For years I've kept that secret, hoping there was money hanging to it. But I don't see none."
"'Tis your duty to tell me now that I am a man."
"As to that-- Do she want to know, or do you?"
"Ho-ho! An' what be you to her that she should care a rush who your faither was?"
"'Tis so, but for God's sake, grandmother----"
"Say it out, then, or I'll peach. Come now----"
"Will you swear before heaven to tell nobody--not a breath to any living soul?"