Page:Doctor Syn - A Smuggler Tale of the Romney Marsh.djvu/27

Rh "Whatever is it?" asked the landlady in some alarm.

"What's the time?" demanded the sexton.

"A quarter to four," replied Mrs. Waggetts, turning pale.

"Good!" said the sexton. "School will be closing in a minute or two, so send Imogene round there to ask Mr. Rash to step across lively as soon as he's locked up. But no"—he added thoughtfully—"I forgot: Rash is a bit struck on the girl and they'll linger on the way; send young Jerk, the potboy."

"Jerk's at school hisself," said Mrs. Waggetts.

"Then you go," retorted the sexton.

"No," faltered the landlady. "It's all right, I'll send the girl; for she can't abide Rash, so I'll be bound she won't linger. And while she's gone I'll brew you a nice cup of tea."

"Throw your tea to the devil," snarled the sexton. "One 'ud think you was a diamond duchess the way you consumes good tea. When shall I knock into your skull that tea's a luxury—a drink wot's only meant for swells? Perhaps you don't know what a power of money tea costs!"

"Come, now," giggled the landlady, "not to us, Mister Mipps. Not the way we gets it."

"I don't know what you means," snapped the wary sexton. "But I do wish as how you'd practise a-keepin' your mouth shut, for if you opens it much more that waggin' tongue of yours'll get us all the rope."