"But there that's
better than snowin'--for t' shepherds."
Mrs. Melrose found the girl's voice pleasant, and could not deny that she
was pretty, in her rustic way.
"Has your father many sheep?"
"Aye, but they're all gone up to t' fells for t' winter. We had a grand
time here in September--at t' dippin'. Yo'd never ha' thowt there was so
mony folk about"--the girl went on, civilly, making talk.
"I never saw a single house, or a single light, on the drive from the
station last night," said Mrs. Melrose, in her fretful voice. "Where are
all the people?"
"Well, there ain't many!" laughed Thyrza. "It's a lonesome place this is.
But when it's a shearin', or a dippin', yo' unnerstand, farmin' folk'll
coom a long way to help yan anuther."
"Are they all farmers about here?"
"Mostly. Well, there's Duddon Castle!" Thyrza's voice, a little muffled
by the tin-tacks in the mouth, came from somewhere near the top of a tall
window--"Oh--an' I forgot!--"
In a great hurry the speaker jumped down from her perch, and to Netta's
astonishment ran out of the room.
"What is she about?" thought Mrs. Melrose irritably. But the question was
hardly framed before Thyrza reappeared, holding out her hand, in which
lay some visiting-cards.
"I should ha' given them yo' before."
Mrs. Melrose took them with surprise, and read the name.
"Countess Tatham--who is she?"
"Why it's she that lives at Duddon Castle." Then the girl looked
uncertainly at her companion--"Mr.
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