Runciman standing in front of the hotel. His road took him up Hobbs
gate, by the corner of the Bush; but Runciman came a little out of
the way to meet him. "You have heard the news?" said the innkeeper.

"I have heard one piece of news."

"What's that, sir?"

"Come,--you tell me yours first"

"The young squire is coming down to Bragton next week."

"That's my news too. It is not likely that there should be two
matters of interest in Dillsborough on the same day."

"I don't know why Dillsborough should be worse off than any other
place, Mr. Morton; but at any rate the squire's coming."

"So Mrs. Hopkins told me. Has he written to you?"

"His coachman or his groom has; or perhaps he keeps what they call
an ekkery. He's much too big a swell to write to the likes of me.
Lord bless me,--when I think of it, I wonder how many dozen of
orders I've had from Lord Rufford under his own hand. 'Dear
Runcimam, dinner at eight; ten of us; won't wait a moment. Yours
R.' I suppose Mr. Morton would think that his lordship had let
himself down by anything of that sort?"

"What does my cousin want?"