III

III –––––––– The door opened cautiously, as such doors in the Five Towns do, after a shooting of bolts and a loosing of chains; it opened to the extent of about nine inches, and Toby Hall saw the face of a middle-aged woman eyeing him. 'Is this Mrs Hall's?' he asked sternly. 'No. It ain't Mrs Hall's. It's Mrs Tansley's.' 'I thowt—' The door opened a little wider. 'That's not you, Tobias?' said the woman unmoved. 'I reckon it is, though,' replied Toby, with a difficult smile. 'Bless us!' exclaimed the woman. The door oscillated slightly under her hand. 'Bless us!' she repeated. And then suddenly, 'You'd happen better come in, Tobias.' 'Aye!' said Tobias. And he entered. 'Sit ye down, do,' said his wife. 'I thowt as you were dead. They wrote and told me so.' 'Aye!' said Tobias. 'But I am na……