Tell me quick! Philip's very good, and kind, and he says he shall die if I will not marry him, and there's no home for mother and me,--no home for her, for as for me I dunnot care what becomes on me; but if Charley's alive I cannot marry Philip--no, not if he dies for want o' me--and as for mother, poor mother, Kester, it's an awful strait; only first tell me if there's a chance, just one in a thousand, only one in a hundred thousand, as Charley were ta'en by t' gang ?' She was breathless by this time, what with her hurried words, and what with the beating of her heart.
Kester took time to answer.

He had spoken before too hastily, this time he weighed his words.
'Kinraid went away from this here place t' join his ship.

An' he niver joined it no more; an' t' captain an' all his friends at Newcassel as iver were, made search for him, on board t' king's ships.

That's more nor fifteen month ago, an' nought has iver been heerd on him by any man.

That's what's to be said on one side o' t' matter.