Hill answered that he was pretty well, and went on loading; but said nothing to the other question. Louis Roe--perceiving sundry straggling spectators who stood peering, as if the loading of a hand-barrow with goods were a raree-show--rather wondered at appearances, and asked again. Hill shortly explained then that they had moved into Willow Cottage; but his wife found it didn't suit her, and so they were moving back again to the old home. He went off with the truck, before he had well answered, giving no time for further colloquy. Louis Roe happened to come across young Jim Batley amidst the tag-rag, and heard from him all that had occurred. "He must be a cruel devil, to leave a timid child all night in a house alone!" was Mr. Roe's indignant comment; who, whatever his shortcomings might be in the eyes of Miss Timmens, was not thought to be hard-hearted. "His mother, she sees his ghost," went on Jim Batley. "Leastways, heered it." Mr. Roe took no notice of this additional communication. Perhaps ghosts held a low place in his creed--and he appeared to have plunged into a reverie. Starting out of it in a minute or two, he ran after Hill, and began talking in a low, business tone. Hill could not believe his ears. Surely such luck had never befallen a miserable man! For here was Louis Roe offering to take Willow Cottage off his hands: to become his, Hill's, tenant for a short time. The double rent; this, and that for the old house he was returning to; had been weighing upon Hill's mind as heavily as David weighed upon it. The man had saved plenty of money, but he was of a close nature. Squire Todhetley was a generous man; but Hill felt conscious that he had displeased him too much to expect any favour at present. "What d'ye want of the cottage?" asked Hill, suppressing all signs of satisfaction. "Be you and Harriet a-coming to live down here?" "We should like to stay here for a few weeks--say till the dead of winter's over," replied Roe. "London is a beastly dull place in bad weather; the fogs don't agree with Harriet. I had thought of taking two or three rooms at Birmingham: but I don't know but she'll like this cottage best--if you will let me have it cheap." It would be cheap enough. For Hill named the very moderate rent he had agreed to pay the Squire. Only too glad was he, to get that. Roe promised to pay him monthly. North Crabb was electrified at the news. Mr. and Mrs. Roe were coming to stay in the cottage where poor David Garth had just died. No time was lost over it, either. On the following day some hired furniture was put into it, and Harriet herself arrived.