Page:Quiller-Couch--Old fires and profitable ghosts.djvu/88

80 "‘Those hands—why, how could I mistake, that used to be her nurse?'

"‘But why does she wash them?'

"'Well, miss, being always a dainty child—and the house-work, you see" "I took a long breath. 'Do you mean to tell me that all this tidying and dusting' I broke off. 'Is it she who has been taking this care of me?'

"Mrs. Carkeek met my look steadily.

"‘Who else, miss?'

"‘Poor little soul!'

"'Well now'—Mrs. Carkeek rubbed my candle-stick with the edge of her apron—'I'm so glad you take it like this. For there isn't really nothing to be afraid of—is there?' She eyed me wistfully. 'It's my belief she loves you, miss. But only to think what a time she must have had with the others!'

"‘The others?' I echoed.

"‘The other tenants, miss: the ones afore you.'

"‘Were they bad?'

"‘They was awful. Didn't Farmer Hosking tell you? They carried on fearful—one after another, and each one worse than the last."

"‘What was the matter with them? Drink?'

"‘Drink, miss, with some of 'em. There was the Major—he used to go mad with it, and run about the coombe in his nightshirt. Oh, scandalous! And his wife drank too—that is, if she ever was