She said--she said--the--the--oh, you
don't know--'
'_She_--who? _Who_ said _what_?' cried Toole, lending his ear, for he
never refused a story.
'Oh! Doctor, he's gone--I'll never--never--I know I'll never see him
again. Tell me he's not gone--tell me I'll see him again.'
'Hang it, can't she stick to one thing at a time--the poor woman's half
out of her wits,' said Toole, provoked; 'I'll wager a dozen of claret
there's more on her mind than she's told to anyone.'
Before he could bring her round to the subject again, the doctor was
called down to Lowe; so he took his leave for the present; and after his
talk with the magistrate, he did not care to go up again to poor little
Mrs. Nutter; and Moggy was as white as ashes standing by, for Mr. Lowe
had just made her swear to her little story about the shoes; and Toole
walked home to the village with a heavy heart, and a good deal out of
humour.
Toole knew that a warrant would be issued next day against Nutter. The
case against him was black enough. Still, even supposing he had struck
those trenchant blows over Sturk's head, it did not follow that it was
without provocation or in cold blood.
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