Standing just without was Sebastian’s phaeton, with Hugo holding the reins, and carrying on a conversation with Ben at the same time. Sebastian heard the words: ‘Ay, and his mother never got o’er it, hoo didn’t. It were main stupid o’ Sally Whittaker to say what hoo did----’ Ben stopped abruptly and grew very red in the face, as Sebastian tapped him on the shoulder, inquiring, as he climbed into his place, ‘What was so stupid?’ ‘Go on!’ said Hugo to the boy. ‘He’s telling me about a boy that he knew, who was killed at a factory. Go on! What did Sally Whittaker say?’ ‘Well, it were i’ this way, yo’ seen. It were at Ormerod’s works as th’ lad were killed, and Ormerod come round just as they was takin’ th’ body away on a shutter; and he says, “Now then, where are you boun’?” he says. And they told him they were for takkin’ him to his mother, and they doubted it would kill her too, for hoo were main fond on him. “Eh, what?” he says. “Yo munnot do so. Yo mun one on yo go afore, and warn her--prepare her like a bit,” he says. “Let one o’ these ’ere wenches go on afore.” So Sally Whittaker, hoo knew his mother, and hoo said hoo’d go and tell her, and hoo went on afore. Eh, bi’ th’ mass! but hoo is a gradely foo’, is Sally Whittaker! and hoo walks into Emma’s kitchen, and hoo says, straight out, hoo says, “Eh, Emmer, but troubles is never to seech,” hoo says. “Your Johnny’s killed as dead as a stoan!”’ ‘What did the poor woman do?’ asked Sebastian, with interest. ‘Eh, hoo just dropped the fryin’-pan, and hoo gave a screech yo’ mowt a yeard down to the town-hall, and then hoo begun to cry, and then they browt him whoam. Mun I lock up, sir, now? Have you finished?’ ‘Yes, quite,’ said Sebastian, with a good-natured nod. ‘Lock up, and go home. You’ve not had much of a holiday this afternoon’ ‘Bless you, sir, it’s no soart o’ consequence,’ said Ben, with a gratified look at this mark of attention; and he retired to lock up again. ‘Will you drive?’ asked Hugo, when they were alone. ‘No; I’ll let you drive on, if you will. And, stay! What do you say to a drive in the country before dinner? It will be daylight for a long time yet. If there is any country about here?’ he added, with a disparaging look around. ‘Oh, lots! While you have been so industriously grubbing away at those figures, and showing me quite a new phase in your character, I have been exploring the interior. I know of four separate and distinct routes to the country. Certainly it is rather stony when one does get there; but it is country all the same. Will you go north, south, east, or west?’ ‘Hurrah for the North!’ said Sebastian, drily. ‘Turn the horses’ heads towards Yorkshire, _mein Hugo_!’