Page:Between Two Loves.djvu/89

84 Sarah. Yet it was only her he noted. She had evidently given more way to her grief, whatever it was, since Jonathan's visit, for Ben saw that she was quietly weeping, and that her companions lifted their eyes a moment to her as Ben passed through the room. He did not, however, speak to any of them, he went to the lower shed and called out Jane Crossley, the grand-daughter of the woman with whom Sarah lodged.

"Jane, dost ta know what Sarah Benson is fretting hersen ill about?"

"Ay, I know. Iverybody knows, for that matter."

"Nay, then, I doan't, but I wish thou'd tell me. T' lass looks in a poorly way."

"Why, ta sees, she hes hed double work for her hands nigh on to four months now, and she's hed a bit o' real heart-grief last week."

"Is it about Steve?"

"In a way, it is. Thou knows after Joyce hed her little lass she was varry bad, and for two months she didn't leave her room at all. Ivery night as soon as Sarah had drunk off a cup o' tea, away she went to Steve's. They needed her badly there. Varry often she found