And as the other remained silent, he added, 'You can tell him, if you like, that my wife's been very bad for a long time.

Him an' me don't have nothing to say to each other--but you can tell him that, if you like.' 'So I will,' replied Mr.Snowdon, nodding with a confidential air.
He had noticed from the beginning of his acquaintance with Hewett that the latter showed no disinclination to receive news of Kirkwood.

As Clem's husband, Joseph was understood to be perfectly aware of the state of things between the Hewetts and their former friend, and in a recent conversation with Mrs.Hewett he had assured himself that she, at all events, would be glad if the estrangement could come to an end.
For reasons of his own, Joseph gave narrow attention to these signs.
The talk was turning to other matters, when a man who had just entered the room and stood looking about him with an uneasy expression caught sight of Hewett and approached him.

He was middle-aged, coarse of feature, clad in the creased black which a certain type of artisan wears on Sunday.
'I'd like a word with you, John,' he said, 'if your friend'll excuse.' Hewett rose from the table, and they walked together to an unoccupied spot.
'Have you heard any talk about the Burial Club ?' inquired the man, in a low voice of suspicion, knitting his eyebrows.
'Heard anything?
No.

What ?' 'Why, Dick Smales says he can't get the money for his boy, as died last week.' 'Can't get it?
Why not ?' 'That's just what I want to know.