I am utterly ignorant of anything which may have happened to him." Ellen remained entirely unconvinced.
"There's things about," she declared, "which I don't understand nor don't want to.

First of all you go dotty.

Now the same sort of thing seems to have come to little Alf, and what I want to know is what you mean by it?
It's all rubbish for you to expect me to believe that he's taken to this naturally." Burton put his hand to his head for a moment.
"Go on," he said.

"Unless you tell me what has happened to Alfred, I cannot even attempt to help you." "Well, I'll tell you fast enough," Ellen assured him, "though you needn't take that for a proof that I believe what you say.

He's been a changed child ever since you were down last.