“Then there was the Byrnes’ young woman, Mabel Jones or some such name. She was sent round to Mr. Egerton’s to ask for the sack⁠—one day last week. And she said⁠—what was it she said, Mr. Dimple?”

“She said Mr. Egerton was ‘short like’ with her, and⁠—”

“Ah yes!” Mrs. Vincent hastened to resume the reins. “He was ‘short like’ and a bit ’uffy with her; and he said he’d lost the sack, picking up wood⁠—lost it in the river.⁠ ⁠…