is, but from the very first moment I saw him I hated
him. I think he has such a cruel face. His mouth is so hard and his eyes
are dreadful. But when do you want to go? When will you be ready to
start?"

"Didn't you say you must be back in town on Tuesday? Didn't you say
something about your pupils? Well, suppose you go up on that day and I
follow you on Wednesday. It would arouse suspicion for us both to go at
the same time, and indeed I would ask you to stay longer only I can't
breathe here. Knowing what I do, it is hateful to have to sit down to
the same table with my father. I daresay I shall come to forgive him in
time, but for the present it is beyond my strength. Mr. Copley is always
about the house. Do try to make it Tuesday if you can. It seems so
horrid of me----"

Alice rose from her seat and kissed the speaker affectionately.

"I won't hear another word," she said. "It is not in the least horrid of
you. I will gladly do all I can to help you."

Tuesday came at length and Alice Carden went away, leaving May to her
own melancholy thoughts. She had not seen Harry Fielden for a few days
and was thankful he had not been near her. It would be hard parting from
him. It would be difficult to say good-bye without betraying herself or
giving him some inkling of what had happened. After lunch on Wednesday
she stole out of the house and walked to the station. She had sent on
her luggage by Alice Carden the day before, so that when she left for
London it might seem that she was only going for a casual visit. She
would not mind the new life, so she thought, and she hardened her heart
as she looked out of the carriage window. But, all the same, she was
glad to find herself alone, for the tears would come and the old
familiar landscape grew dim and blurred.

What would they say, she wondered, when they knew. What would Harry
Fielden think? But, at that very moment, Harry Fielden had something
else to occupy his attention. He was walking across the Downs towards
Haredale Park with Raffle, and the latter was speaking his mind very
freely.

"I won't be quiet, sir, and I won't keep my mouth shut," he said. "I
tell you, Mr. Harry, it is a foul conspiracy and there are no two ways
about it. Sir George gave Mallow a week to try to pull the colt round,
and he says, says he, 'Mallow, if he's no better by that time, he's to
be scratched.' Those were the instructions and Sir George confirmed them
this morning. Now I am not going