"Besides, if old Mrs.Hamthwaite knows anything, why hasn't she let me know until tonight ?" "Oh, there's no accounting for that!" said Brereton.

"Old women have their own way of doing things.

By the by," he continued, as they turned out of the road and began to climb a path which led to the first ridge of the moors outside the town, "I haven't seen you today--you've heard of this Stoner affair ?" "Mr.Northrop told me this afternoon," she replied.

"What do you think about it ?" Brereton walked on a little way without replying.

He was asking a serious question of himself.