HER'S married'--indicating the
photograph--'her married young Gibson last September.'
'Well, well!' murmured Toby.
Another pause.
There was a shuffling on the pavement outside, and some children
began to sing about shepherds and flocks.
'Oh, bother them childer,' said Priscilla. 'I must send 'em off.'
She got up.
'Here! Give 'em a penny,' Toby suggested, holding out a penny.
'Yes, and then they'll tell others, and I shan't have a moment's
peace all night!' Priscilla grumbled.
However, she bestowed the penny, cutting the song off abruptly in
the middle. And she bolted and chained the door and sat down
again.
Another pause.
'Well, well!' said Priscilla.
'Aye!' Toby agreed. 'Good coal that!'
'Fourteen shilling a ton!'
Another pause, and a longer.
'Is Ned Walklate still at th' Rose and Crown?' Toby asked.
'For aught I know he is,' said Priscilla.
'I'll just step round there,' said Toby, picking up his hat and
rising.
As he was manoeuvring the door-chain, Priscilla said--
'You're forgetting your umbrella, Tobias.'
'No,' he answered. 'I hanna' forgotten it. I'm coming back.'
Their eyes met, charged with meaning.
'That'll be all right,' she said. 'Well, well!'
'Aye!'
And he stepped round to Ned Walklate's.
FROM ONE GENERATION TO ANOTHER
I
It is the greatest mistake in the world to imagine that, because
the Five Towns is an industrial district, devoted to the
manufacture of cups and saucers, marbles and door-knobs, therefore
there is no luxury in it.
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