‘Aye, it wor Mrs. Costrell,’ said Watson, in the tone of concern natural to the respectable husband and father.

The minister sighed.

’It’s terrible the way she’s gone downhill the last three months.  I never pass almost but I see her going in there or coming out.’

‘No,’ said Watson, slowly, ‘no, it’s bad.  What I’d like to know,’ he added, reflectively,’ is where she gets the money from.’

’Oh, she had a legacy, hadn’t she, in August?  It seems to have been a curse.  She has been a changed woman ever since.’

‘Yes, she had a legacy,’ said Watson, dubiously; ’but I don’t believe it was much.  She talked big, of course, and made a lot o’ fuss—­she’s that kind o’ woman—­just as she did about old John’s money.’

‘Old John’s money?—­Ah! did any one ever know what became of that?’

’Well, there’s many people thinks as Isaac has got it hid in the house somewhere, and there’s others thinks he’s put it in Bedford bank.  Edwards told me private he didn’t know nothing about it at the post-office, and Bessie told my wife as John had given Isaac the keepin of it till he come back again; but he’d knock her about, she said, if she let on what he’d done with it.  That’s the story she’s allus had, and boastin, of course, dreadful, about John’s trustin them, and Isaac doin all his business for him.’

The minister reflected.

‘And you say the legacy wasn’t much?’

’Well, sir, I know some people over at Bedford where her aunt lived as left it her, and they were sure it wasn’t a great deal; but you never know.’

‘And Isaac never said?’

’Bless yer, no sir!  He was never a great one for talking, wasn’t Isaac; but you’d think now as he’d never learnt how.  He’ll set there in the club of a night and never open his mouth to nobody.’

‘Perhaps he’s fretting about his wife, Watson?’

’Well, I don’t believe as he knows much about her goins-on—­not all, leastways.  I’ve seen her wait till he was at his work or gone to the club, and then run down the hill—­tearin—­with her hair flyin—­you’d think she’d gone silly.  Oh, it’s a bad business,’ said Watson, strongly, ‘an uncommon bad business—­all them young children too.’

‘I never saw her drunk, Watson.’

’No—­yer wouldn’t.  Nor I neither.  But she’ll treat half the parish if she gets the chance.  I know many fellers as go to the “Spotted Deer” just because they know she’ll treat ’em.  She’s a-doin of it now—­there’s lots of ’em.  And allus changin such a queer lot of money too—­ old half-crowns—­years and years old—­King George the Third, sir.  No—­ it’s strange—­very strange.’

The two walked on into the darkness, still talking.