was Osmond Orgreave who, having been tramping for exercise in the
high regions beyond the Loop railway line, was just going home.

"Oh! Nowhere particular," said Edwin feebly.

"Working off Sunday dinner, eh?"

"Yes." And Edwin added casually, to prove that there was nothing
singular in his mood: "Nasty night!"

"You must come in a bit," said Mr Orgreave.

"Oh no!" He shrank away.

"Now, now!" said Mr Orgreave masterfully. "You've got to come in, so
you may as well give up first as last. Janet's in. She's like you and
me, she's a bad lot,--hasn't been to church." He took Edwin by the arm,
and they turned into Oak Street at the lower end.

Edwin continued to object, but Mr Orgreave, unable to scrutinise his
face in the darkness, and not dreaming of an indiscretion, rode over his
weak negatives, horse and foot, and drew him by force into the garden;
and in the hall took his hat away from him and slid his overcoat from
his shoulders. Mr Orgreave, having accomplished a lot of forbidden
labour on that Sabbath, was playful in his hospitality.

"Prisoner! Take charge of him!" exclaimed Mr Orgreave shortly, as he
pushed Edwin into the breakfast-room and shut the door from the outside.
Janet was there, exquisitely welcoming, unconsciously pouring balm from
her eyes. But he thought she looked graver than usual. Edwin had to
enact the part of a man to whom nothing has happened. He had to behave
as though his father was the kindest and most reasonable of fathers, as
though Hilda wrote fully to him every day, as though he were not even
engaged to Hilda. He must talk, and he scarcely knew what he was
saying.

"Heard lately from Miss Lessways?" he asked lightly, or as lightly as he
could. It was a splendid effort. Impossible to expect him to start
upon the weather or the strike! He did the best he could.

Janet's eyes became troubled. Speaking in a low voice she said, with a
glance at the door--

"I suppose you've not heard. She's married."

He did not move.

------------------------------------------------------------------------

SIX.

"Married?"

"Yes. It is rather sudden, isn't it?" Janet tried to smile, but she
was exceedingly self-conscious. "To a Mr Cannon. She's known him for
a very long time, I think."

"When?"

"Yesterday. I had a note this morning. It's quite a secret yet. I
haven't told father and mother. But she asked me to tell you if I saw
you."

He thought her eyes w