George went for a long walk to refresh himself, not bothering about his popularity any longer, as he was contemplating an act which would make future residence in Highfield impossible; but he met the Wallower in Wealth, who demanded his musical box; and the Dumpy Philosopher, who put searching questions concerning the railway and the amount of compensation for wounded feelings he was likely to receive; and the Yellow Leaf, who had just lost his wife and was going courting. Returning, during the late afternoon, he stopped at his own house, knocked, but received no answer from that side of the street. Bessie looked out from the cottage window opposite and invited him to step in that direction. "Have ye heard the news, Mr. George?" she whispered excitedly. "Master ha' given Robert three pounds and a week." "Three pounds!" cried George fiercely. "Us can't make any one believe it. Three solid sovereigns, sir! Robert ha' got teethache through biting 'em." "I am not surprised," said George. "Dyer has been left a lot of money--he told me yesterday. An uncle, who went to New Zealand years ago, has just died and left him thousands. He can buy up the whole village if he wants to." "Master never told Robert he'd been left money. He gave 'en the sovereigns and said 'twas a reward vor the way Robert had worked. Couldn't spare 'em, he said, but his conscience worried him. They do say the Dyers ha' never given away anything avore 'cept the water what they boiled their cabbage in." "When are you off?" "First thing tomorrow. We'm going to my home, so it won't cost nothing 'cept the railway. I'm getting our things together now." "Where's Robert?" "Going round wi' the bread--that's him a-whistling. He'm fair mazed, Mr. George." "Who is to take care of the house?" "I'll lock it up and take the keys away wi' me. Why shouldn't us go? No one won't go near the house, wi' you and policeman about." "I think you ought to wait until Miss Yard comes back," said George, who knew enough about women to be aware how the spirit of opposition acts upon them. "And lose our holiday! The only real holiday we've had, and the chance to see my folks again. Not likely, Mr. George! If we don't go tomorrow, master will ask vor them three sovereigns back again. How did you manage to find out he'd been left all this money?" "I was talking with him yesterday and--it just slipped out. You will hear more when you come back." "I'll make Robert ask 'en vor a rise. How long be you staying, Mr. George?" "I might be here when you return or, on the other hand, I might go tomorrow. Do you want me to take charge of the keys?" "Somebody ought to go in and open the windows." "I don't mind doing you a favour. If I'm called away I will leave the keys with Mrs. Dyer." "Not wi' she. Leave 'em wi' Mrs. Cann to the post office. You come this evening, and I'll give ye the keys." "All right," said George. "But you know I don't approve of your going after having been left in charge."