Arthur wrote it, and they rehearsed it together. As to the dialogue, that
was so constructed that it could be varied considerably according to the
cues, which could be foreseen to a certain extent; but not precisely,
since they were to be given by Helen Rolleston, who was not in the
secret.
But while this plot was fermenting, other events happened, with rather a
contrary tendency; and these will be more intelligible if we go back to
Nancy Rouse's cottage, where indeed we have kept Joseph Wylie in an
uncomfortable position a very long time.
Mrs. James, from next door, was at last admitted into Nancy's kitchen,
and her first word was, "I suppose you know what I'm come about, ma'am."
"Which it is to return me the sasspan you borrowed, no doubt," was
Nancy's ingenuous reply.
"No, ma'am. But I'll send my girl in with it, as soon as she have cleaned
it, you may depend."
"Thank ye, I shall be glad to see it again."
"You're not afeard I shall steal it, I hope?"
'"La, bless the woman! don't fly out at a body like that. I can't afford
to give away my sasspan."
"Sasspans is not in my head."
"Nor in your hand neither."
"I'm come about my lodger; a most respectable gentleman, which he have
met with an accident.
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