As soon as she had spoken them she wished the words unsaid. Her
dislike to Miss Pucker amounted almost to hatred. She felt bitterly
even towards her own eldest daughter. She looked timidly into
Rachel's face and unconsciously construed into their true meaning
those lines which formed themselves on the girl's brow and over her
eyes.

"Well, mamma; and what else?" said Rachel.

"Dorothea thinks that perhaps you are going into Baslehurst to meet
him again."

"And suppose I am?"

From the tone in which this question was asked it was clear to Mrs.
Ray that she was expected to answer it. And yet what answer could she
make?

It had never occurred to her that her child would take upon herself
to defend such conduct as that imputed to her, or that any question
would be raised as to the propriety or impropriety of the proceeding.
She was by no means prepared to show why it was so very terrible
and iniquitous. She regarded it as a sin,--known to be a sin
generally,--as is stealing or lying. "Suppose I am going to walk with
him again? what then?"

"Oh, Rachel, who is he? I don't even know his name. I didn't believe
it, when Dorothea told me; only as she did tell me I thought I ought
to mention it. Oh dear, oh dear! I hope there is nothing wrong. You
were always so good;--I can't believe anything wrong of you."

"No, mamma;--don't. Don't think evil of me."

"I never did, my darling."

"I am not going into Baslehurst to walk with Mr. Rowan;--for I
suppose it is him you mean."

"I don't know, my dear; I never heard the young man's name."

"It is Mr. Rowan. I did walk with him along the churchyard path when
that woman with her sharp squinting eyes saw me. He does belong to
the brewery. He is related in some way to the Tappitts, and was a
nephew of old Mrs. Bungall's. He is there as a clerk, and they say he
is to be a partner,--only I don't think he ever will, for he quarrels
with Mr. Tappitt."

"Dear, dear!" said Mrs. Ray.

"And now, mamma, you know as much about him as I do; only this, that
he went to Exeter this morning, and does not come back till Monday,
so that it is impossible that I should meet him in Baslehurst this
evening;--and it was very unkind of Dolly to say so; very unkind
indeed." Then Rachel gave way and began to cry.

It certainly did seem to Mrs. Ray that Rachel knew a good deal about
Mr. Rowan. She knew of his kith and kin, she knew of his prospects
and what was like to mar his prospects, and sh