ise of his friendship, of her first dance, of
the little fraud by which he had secured her company at supper, and
then of those words he had spoken when he detained her after supper
in the hall. She knew that she liked him well, but had feared that
such liking might not be encouraged. But what could be nicer than
this,--to sit and listen to him in her mother's presence? Now she
was not afraid of him. Now she feared no one's eyes. Now she was
disturbed by no dread lest she might be sinning against rules of
propriety. There was no Mrs. Tappitt by, to rebuke her with an angry
look.

"Oh, Mr. Rowan, I'm sure you need not go yet," she said, when he got
up and sought his hat.

"Mr. Rowan, my dear, has got other things to do besides talking to
us."

"Oh no, he has not. He can't go and brew after eight o'clock."

"When my brewery is really going, I mean to brew all night; but just
at present I'm the idlest man in Baslehurst. When I go away I shall
sit upon Cawston Bridge and smoke for an hour, till some of the
Briggses of the town come and drive me away. But I won't trouble you
any longer. Good night, Mrs. Ray."

"Good night, Mr. Rowan."

"And I may come and see you again?"

Mrs. Ray was silent. "I'm sure mamma will be very happy," said
Rachel.

"I want to hear her say so herself," said Luke.

Poor woman! She felt that she was driven into a position from which
any safe escape was quite impossible. She could not tell her guest
that he would not be welcome. She could not even pretend to speak to
him with cold words after having chatted with him so pleasantly, and
with such cordial good humour; and yet, were she to tell him that
he might come, she would be granting him permission to appear there
as Rachel's lover. If Rachel had been away, she would have appealed
to his mercy, and have thrown herself, in the spirit, on her knees
before him. But she could not do this in Rachel's presence.

"I suppose business will prevent your coming so far out of town again
very soon."

It was a foolish subterfuge; a vain, silly attempt.

"Oh dear no," said he; "I always walk somewhere every day, and you
shall see me again before long." Then he turned to Rachel. "Shall you
be at Mr. Tappitt's to-morrow?"

"I don't quite know," said Rachel.

"I suppose I might as well tell you the truth and have done with it,"
said Luke, laughing. "I hate secrets among friends. The fact is Mr.
Tappitt has turned me out of his house."

"Turned y