"I never thought it would be as bad as that," he murmured pityingly. "It’s a bad business, is that! ... Didn’t doctor say there was anything could be done?" "There was summat about an operation, but it’ll get no forrarder," Simon said. "They fancy things is hardly in Sarah’s line." "If it’s brass that’s wanted, you needn’t fash over that...." He added more urgently as Simon shook his head, "It’d be queer if I grudged you brass for a thing like yon!" "You’re right kind," Simon said gratefully, "but it isn’t no use. She’s that proud, is Sarah, she’ll never agree. I doubt she just means to let things slide." "She’s no call, I’m sure, to be proud with me!" Will’s voice was almost hot. "I’ve always been ready any time to stand her friend. Anyway, there’s the offer, and she can take it or leave it as best suits her. If she changes her mind after a while, she won’t find as I’ve altered mine.... But there’s no sense in your taking a job and leaving a blind woman to fend for herself. There’s nowt for it but Sarah’ll have to come to us." Simon laughed when he said that, a grim, mirthless laugh which made the dog open his sleepless eyes and throw him a searching glance. "Nay, nay, Will, my lad! It’s right good of you, but it wouldn’t do. A bonny time you’d have, to be sure, wi’ the pair on ’em in t’house! And anyway your missis’d never hear tell o’ such a thing, so that fixes it right off." "It’s my own spot, I reckon!" Will spoke with unusual force. "I can do as suits me, I suppose. T’lasses hasn’t that much to do they can’t see to a blind body, and as for room and suchlike, there’ll be plenty soon. Young Battersby’s made it up with our Em, and it’s more than time yon Elliman Wilkinson was thinking o’ getting wed. He’s been going with our Sally a terble long while, though he and Mary Phyllis seem mighty throng just now. Anyway, there’ll be a corner for Sarah right enough,--ay, and for you an’ all." But Simon shook his head again, and stood up straight and took his arm off the back of the cow. "There’d be murder, I doubt," he said quite simply, and this time he did not laugh. "There’s bad blood between they two women as nobbut death’ll cure. Nay, I thank ye right enough, Will, but yon horse won’t pull.... "I mun get a job, that’s all," he went on quickly, before Will could speak again, "and some sort of a spot where t’neighbours’ll look to the missis while I’m off. I’ll see t’agent agen and try to ram into him as I mean to gang, and if you hear of owt going to suit, you’ll likely let me know?"