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152 they were too quickly spoken to permit her to comprehend their meaning.

"Mina," began Robert, perceiving his mistake and endeavoring to speak more clearly and not unduly to alarm the woman, "did n't Dirck tell you where he was going?"

"Yaas."

"He did? Where was it?"

"He was going to Esopus."

"With that man?"

"Yaas."

"What was he going for? When did he say he would come back?" Robert's eagerness was returning again, but he repressed himself by an effort, for his hope of receiving a reply to his questions depended much upon himself, as he was aware.

"There was some one sick."

"Did Rus— Did the man tell him that?"

"I do not know. Dirck told me."

"Did he go with the man?"

"Yaas."

"And he did not tell you when he expected to come back?"

"Yaas, he told me."

"When was it?"

"Last night. But he don't was come back yet," she added, shaking her head.