One person there was who had special reason for observing him closely that evening, and even for inducing him to converse on certain subjects; this was Mrs.Baxendale.A day or two previously she had heard a singular story from a friend of hers, which occupied her thought not a little.

It interested her to discover how Dagworthy would speak of the Hood family, if led to that topic.

He did not seem to care to dwell upon it, and the lady, after her experiment, imagined that it had not been made altogether in vain.
With that exception Dagworthy had kept to his mill and his house.

It was seldom that he had a visitor, and those persons who did call could hardly feel that they were desired to come again.

Mrs.Jenkins, of the Done tongue, ruled in the household, and had but brief interviews with her master; provided that his meals were served at the proper time, Dagworthy cared to inquire into nothing that went on--outside his kennels--and even those he visited in a sullen way.