'What are yer meddlin with my 'ouse for?' she said fiercely. 'Just mek
yourselves scarce, all the lot o' yer! I don't know nothin about his
money, an I'll not have yer _insultin_ me in my own place! Get out o' my
kitchen, if _yo_ please!'

Saunders buttoned his coat.

'Sartinly, Mrs. Costrell, sartinly,' he said, with emphasis. 'Come
along, John. Yer must get Watson and put it in 'is hands. 'Ee's the law
is Watson. Maybe, as Mrs. Costrell ull listen to '_im_.'

Mary Anne ran to Bessie in despair.

'O Bessie, Bessie, my dear--don't let 'em get Watson; let 'em look
into't theirselves--it'll be better for yer, my dear, it _will_.'

Bessie looked from one to the other, panting. Then she turned back to
the table.

'_I_ don care what they do,' she said, with sullen passion. 'I'm not
stannin in any one's way, I tell yer. The more they finds out the better
I'm pleased.'

The look of incipient laughter on Saunders's countenance became more
pronounced--that is to say, the left-hand corner of his mouth twitched a
little higher.

But it was rare for him to complete the act, and he was not in the least
minded to do so now. He beckoned to John, and John, trembling, took off
his keys and gave them to him, pointing to that which belonged to the