“Very good!” said Jagger contemptuously. “Get on with your hitting!” and turned away. “If it was only me,” he said to himself as he walked slowly towards the village, “I daresay he’d find a way to ruin me, for he’s the devil himself; but he can’t hurt father.” He was thinking of the business; but the business had not been in Inman’s thoughts. CHAPTER XVIII IN WHICH BALDWIN ALLOWS AN OPPORTUNITY TO SLIP HANNAH was bending over the fire stirring something in a pan when Inman entered the kitchen, and he went straight up to her and laying a hand on her shoulder said: “Keturah’ll manage that, whatever it is; and if she can’t I’ll pay somebody else to do it. Get you off home and bandage your brother; and never set foot in this house again while I’m its master.” Hannah flashed round, and though her eyes widened at the sight of his swollen face she was not cowed. “There’s work been done while you’ve been fighting,” she said; “and there’s work yet to be done if your wife’s life is to be saved; and work ’at only women can do——” “Have done, woman!” he commanded, “and get your things on, if you have any. I don’t want to lay my hands on you; but, by my soul if you aren’t out of this house in another minute I’ll throw you out!” “Lord save us!” ejaculated Keturah, who had been frightened into silence by Inman’s look and voice. “This is what comes o’ whisky-drinking. Eh, dear! Eh, dear! and Nancy on her dying bed at this minute!” “Take t’ spoon, Keturah,” said Hannah, as Inman uttered an impatient exclamation. “We mustn’t have a row i’ t’ house, choose what else we have. I’ll go, seeing as I must; and I hope an’ trust ’at t’ worst is over and Nancy’ll pull through now. Maybe you’ll find time to run across and bring me word.” “It’s come to a bonny pass,” wailed Keturah with a spark of spirit, as she took up the spoon and Hannah’s work; “when we’ve to be at t’ beck and call of a man nob’dy’d set eyes on this time was a twelve-month, and ordered about same as we was slaves, and he’d use t’ whip to wer backs——” “And so I would for two pins,” Inman broke in sharply. “Shut your mouth, woman! It’s a sick house,” he added with a sneer—“and we must have quiet! Tell your brother,” he said to Hannah as he held open the door for her to pass out, “that I shall begin the treatment I spoke of this very night, and he can have that thought to sleep on. And don’t forget that this door’s closed to you!” He went upstairs without returning to the kitchen and Keturah heard his voice on the landing in conversation with the doctor. By and by the two men came down together and passed into the parlour.