"Well, Sunday did come, an' I did have a beautiful tea ready; muffins and a bit o' cold ham--not so salt as poor Sarah's--and a pot o' blackberry-an'-apple jam. Brother John were the first to come. He fair give me a start, for I didn't expect en so early; he did put his head in at the door, an' beckon this way, so secret-like." (Here there was the usual accompaniment of appropriate gesture.) "'Mary,' he whispered, 'Mary, be she come?' "'Not yet, John,' says I. "He did squeeze hisself very cautious round the door, lookin' to right an' left, this way" (further pantomime). "'Mary,' says he, right in my ear, 'have 'ee seen the bank-book?' "'Nay, John,' says I; 'nay; 'twasn't to be expected, but I did hear, John,' says I, 'as it were worth lookin' at.' "He did sit him down then, an' did begin to whistle to hisself, an' to rub his knees up and down. He had his best clothes on, an' the big tall hat as he'd a-bought for the first poor Mrs. John's funeral. He took it off after a while, and did keep turnin' it round and round in his hands. 'Where's Robert?' says he, all to once. "'Cleaning up a bit i' the bedroom,' says I. "'I think I'll go to en,' says he. "'Not you,' says I, determined-like. 'Sit you there, that's a good man. She'll be here in a minute.' "But Robert come down first, an' we was gettin' a bit anxious when Mrs. Maidment did tap at the door. She was lookin' real well an' genteel, in a black silk dress, and wi' one o' them little black bags as they did use to call ridicules in her hand. Poor Brother John could scarce take his eyes off it, for he made sure, d'ye see, as she'd a-brought the bank-book inside. Well, the tea did pass off so pleasant as could be, and so soon as it was over I did make a sign to Robert. "'I've summat to show 'ee' says I, an' so soon as I did get en outside, I did sauce en for bein' so stupid. "'How be they ever to get things settled wi' us two a-lookin' at 'em?' says I. "We did stay outside a-kickin' of our heels for above half-an-hour, an' then we did come in--an' there they was a-settin' one on each side of the fire so comfortable as you could wish. Sarah looked up when I opened the door, an' she says straight out, 'We've pretty nigh settled things, but I shan't give my promise until I've had a look round Mr. Domeny's place. I'd like to make sure as it 'ud suit me,' says she. "'To be sure,' says John, who was lookin' a bit puzzled, but very pleasant. 'To be sure. Next Thursday--now what 'ud ye say to makin' up a party next Thursday, all on ye, an' drivin' over in the arternoon? I'd have kettle bilin',' says he, 'an' all set out so well as a poor lone man can do it, an' maybe one o' you ladies 'ud make tea?'" Mrs. Cross sucked in her breath in token of intensifying enjoyment, and turned her head yet a little more on one side. "And so?" prompted she, as Mrs. Domeny paused.