"Awful hot out here, miss."
"It's gonna be hot all summer, Mister Ossulf."
"All right, all right, with your sharp little tongue. And I think we can get rid of the stuffiness by now, don't you?"
"What stuffiness?"
"The whole 'Mister' business. Here now, move over to the shade. I'll carry the washtub."
"Thanks. So...Ossulf then? It's an odd name. Well, to me, anyway. Reminds me of Oswald."
"Gods above. Oswald. Nope, that won't do. Call me Wolf."
"Wolf?"
"Why are you laughing? Cut that out!"
"I'm sorry! Just seems funny to call a man an animal's name. Although, on second thought, I know a woman named Wren. And used to know a fella called Pidge."
"What kind of bloody name is Pidge?"
"Pidge! It were short for pigeon. It weren't his right name, people just called him that because he were short and fat and waddled around Bree."
"You Bree-folk are odd, I still say."
"Where are you from anyway? Not from here, I know. But you've never said. Hang on, I'll do that. I can hang wet laundry just fine, Mister...Wolf."
"Quit your smirking about my name, girl. I came up from the south a few years back. I like it up here. Quiet."
"Where south? Not that I'll know anything about it, but it's fun to hear stories of where folk have traveled."
"...never you mind where. That's a story for another day. Now then, what's your decision about your leg and the good doctor, hmm?"
"Well. I think I'm going to try his other suggestion first, and see if the cobbler can make a shoe to help steady it."
"Not jumping at the bit to go under the knife?"
"Nay, sir. I'll say it: I'm scared."
"Only fools aren't scared of things, Miss Taite."
"Oi, if I'm calling you Wolf now, you need to call me Taite, aye?"
"A'right then. How are you going to pay for this shoe of yours, hmm? I don't imagine you have a purse full of silver from minding this little boarding house."
"Well. I'll save what I can. I don't spend much on myself. And..."
"And what?"
"...the doctor's posted about needing help. I can't read the notices myself, but Missus Hopmead told me."
"Help with what, hmm? Here, take my arm for the walk back to the house. Give me that basket, I'll carry it."
"Thank you! Ah, cleaning and...gardening, I think? Few other things. Things I could probably do."
"Mmm. I did notice a fair few people coming and going lately. Maybe he's been interviewing folk."
"...oh. Oh. Maybe I'm too late then. Maybe he's already found help."
"You won't know unless you ask."
"I guess. Say, do you want some biscuits? I baked some fresh this morning!"
