'Jasper, Jasper. Come here,' I said.
He would not come.
I went slowly to the door of the store.
'Is there anybody there?' I said.
No one answered.
I bent down to Jasper, putting my hand on his collar, and looked round the edge of the door.
Someone was sitting in the corner against the wall.
Someone who, from his crouching position, was even more frightened than me.
It was Ben.
He was trying to hide behind one of the sails.
'What is the matter?
Do you want something?' I said.
He blinked at me stupidly, his mouth slightly open.
'I'm not doing nothing,' he said.
'Quiet, Jasper,' I scolded, putting my hand over his muzzle, and I took my belt off and ran it through his collar as a leash.
'What do you want, Ben?' I said, a little bolder this time.
He did not answer.
He watched me with his sly idiot's eyes.
'I think you had better come out,' I said.
'Mr de Winter doesn't like people walking in and out of here.'
He shambled to his feet grinning furtively, wiping his nose with the back of his hand.
The other hand he kept behind his back.
'What have you got, Ben?" I said.
He obeyed me like a child, showing me the other hand.
There was a fishing line in it.
'I'm not doing anything,' he repeated.
'Does that line belong here?' I asked.
'Eh?' he said.
'Listen, Ben,' I said. 'You can take that line if you want to, but you mustn't do it again.
It's not honest, taking people's things.'
He said nothing.
He blinked at me and wriggled.
'Come along,' I said firmly.
I went into the main room and he followed me.
Jasper had stopped barking, and was now sniffing at Ben's heels.
I did not want to stop any longer in the cottage.
I walked quickly out into the sunshine, Ben shuffling behind me.
Then I shut the door.
'You had better go home,' I said to Ben.
He held the fishing line clutched to his heart like a treasure.
'You won't put me to the asylum, will you?' he said.
I saw then that he was trembling with fright.
His hands were shaking, and his eyes were fixed on mine in supplication, like a dumb thing.
'Of course not,' I said gently.
'I done nothing,' he repeated,
'I never told no one.
I don't want to be put to the asylum.'
A tear rolled down his dirty face.
"That's all right, Ben,' I said; 'no one will put you away.
But you must not go to the cottage again.'