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He spoke to her and lifted his hat, holding it afterwards in his great bony hand.

‘Get down to th’ entry, Will,’ said his father, and Willie, with an apologetic sort of cough, slipped silently away through the door.

‘Sit down, Miss Tellwright,’ said old Price, and she took the windsor chair that had been occupied by Willie. Her tenant fell into the seat opposite—a leathern chair from which the stuffing had exuded, and with one of its arms broken. ‘I hear as ye father is going into partnership with young Mynors—Henry Mynors.’

Anna started at this surprising item of news, which was entirely fresh to her. ‘Father has said nothing to me about it,’ she replied, coldly.

‘Oh! Happen I’ve said too much. If so, you’ll excuse me, Miss. A smart fellow, Mynors. Now you should see his little works: not very much bigger than this, but there’s everything you can think of there—all the latest machinery and dodges, and not over-rented, I’m told. The biggest fool i’ Bursley couldn’t help but make money there. This ‘ere works ‘ere, Miss Tellwright, wants mendin’ with a new ‘un.