〃Why; er name。〃
〃Hows that?〃
〃Shes fra some foreign parts or other。〃
〃Who told you that?〃
〃Thats all I do know; as she is。〃
〃An wheer do you reckon shes from; then?〃
〃I dont know。 They do say as she hails fra th Pole。 I dont
know;〃 Tilly hastened to add; knowing he would attack her。
〃Fra th Pole; why do you hail fra th Pole? Who set
up that menagerie confabulation?〃
〃Thats what they say……I dont know〃
〃Who says?〃
〃Mrs。 Bentley says as shes fra th Pole……else she is a
Pole; or summat。〃
Tilly was only afraid she was landing herself deeper now。
〃Who says shes a Pole?〃
〃They all say so。〃
〃Then whats brought her to these parts?〃
〃I couldnt tell you。 Shes got a little girl with her。〃
〃Got a little girl with her?〃
〃Of three or four; with a head like a fuzz…ball。〃
〃Black?〃
〃White……fair as can be; an all of a fuzz。〃
〃Is there a father; then?〃
〃Not to my knowledge。 I dont know。〃
〃What brought her here?〃
〃I couldnt say; without th vicar axed her。〃
〃Is the child her child?〃
〃I sd think so……they say so。〃
〃Who told you about her?〃
〃Why; Lizzie……a…Monday……we seed her goin
past。〃
〃Youd have to be rattling your tongues if anything went
past。〃
Brangwen stood musing。 That evening he went up to Cossethay
to the 〃Red Lion〃; half with the intention of hearing more。
She was the widow o