Thus the attempt to do Little was more successful than it looks. Its object was to keep Little and Simmons apart, and sure enough those two men never met again in life.
But, on the other hand, this new crime imbittered two able men against the union, and put Grotait in immediate1 peril2. Mr. Ransome conferred with Mr. Holdfast and they both visited Simmons, and urged him to make a clean breast before he left the world.
Simmons hesitated. He said repeatedly, “Gi' me time! gi' me time!”
Grotait heard of these visits, and was greatly alarmed. He set Dan Tucker and another to watch by turns and report.
Messrs. Holdfast and Ransome had an ally inside the house. Eliza Watney had come in from another town, and had no Hillsborough prejudices. She was furious at this new outrage3 on Little, who had won her regard, and she hoped her brother-in-law would reveal all he knew. Such a confession4, she thought, might remove the stigma5 from himself to those better-educated persons, who had made a tool of her poor ignorant relative.
Accordingly no sooner did the nurse Little had provided inform her, in a low voice, that there was A CHANGE, than she put on her bonnet6, and went in all haste to Mr. Holdfast, and also to the chief constable7, as she had promised them to do.
But of course she could not go without talking. She met an acquaintance not far from the door, and told her Ned was near his end, and she was going to tell the gentlemen.
Dan Tucker stepped up to this woman, and she was as open-mouthed to him as Eliza had been to her. Dan went directly with the news to Grotait.
Grotait came all in a hurry, but Holdfast was there before him, and was actually exhorting8 Simmons to do a good action in his last moments, and reveal those greater culprits who had employed him, when Grotait, ill at ease, walked in, sat down at the foot of the bed, and fixed9 his eye on Simmons.
Simmons caught sight of him and stared, but said nothing to him. Yet, when Holdfast had done, Simmons was observed to look at Grotait, though he replied to the other. “If you was a Hillsbro' man, you'd know we tell on dead folk, but not on quick. I told on Ned Simmons, because he was as good as dead; but to tell on Trade, that's different.”
“And I think, my poor fellow,” suggested Grotait, smoothly10, “you might spend your last moments better in telling US what you would wish the Trade to do for your wife, and the child if it lives.”
“Well, I think ye might make the old gal11 an allowance till she marries again.”
“Oh, Ned! Ned!” cried the poor woman. “I'll have no man after thee.” And a violent burst of grief followed.
“T............