Sam touched his cap, but did not utter a word, or look away from his work. They passed on amidst the heaps in front of the mill, and came to the porch before the cottage. Here, as had been his wont in all these idle days, the miller was sitting with a pipe in his mouth. When he saw the lady he got up and ducked his head, and then sat down again. "If your wife is here, I'll just step in, Mr. Brattle," said Mrs. Fenwick. "She be there, ma'am," said the miller, pointing towards the kitchen window with his head. So Mrs. Fenwick lifted the latch and entered. The parson sat himself down by the miller's side. "I am heartily glad, Mr. Brattle, that Sam is back with you here once again." "He be there, at work among the rest o' 'em," said the miller. "I saw him as I came along. I hope he will remain here now." "I can't say, Muster Fenwick." "But he intends to do so?" "I can't say, Muster Fenwick." "Would it not be well that you should ask him?" "Not as I knows on, Muster Fenwick." It was manifest enough that the old man had not spoken to his son on the subject of the murder, and that there was no confidence,--at least, no confidence that had been expressed,--between the father and the son. No one had as yet heard the miller utter any opinion as to Sam's innocence or his guilt. This of itself seemed to the clergyman to be a very terrible condition for two persons who were so closely united, and who were to live together, work together, eat together, and have mutual interests. "I hope, Mr. Brattle," he said, "that you give Sam the full benefit of his discharge." "He'll get his vittles and his bed, and a trifle of wages if he works for 'em." "I didn't mean that. I'm quite sure you wouldn't see him want a comfortable home, as long as you have one to give him." "There ain't much comfort about it now." "I was speaking of your own opinion of the deed that was done. My own opinion is that Sam had nothing to do with it." "I'm sure I can't say, Muster Fenwick." "But it would be a comfort to you to think that he is innocent." "I ain't no comfort in talking about it,--not at all,--and I'd rayther not, if it's all one to you, Muster Fenwick." "I will not ask another question, but I'll repeat my own opinion, Mr. Brattle. I don't believe that he had anything more to do with the robbery or the murder, than I had." "I hope not, Muster Fenwick. Murder is a terrible crime. And now, if you'll tell me how much it was you paid the lawyer at Heytesbury--" "I cannot say as yet. It will be some trifle. You need not trouble yourself about that."