never contradicted his former assertion,
and allowed the general report to go on,--that report which had been
founded on his own first statement. Thus before Rowan had been a week
out of the place it was believed all over the town that he had left
unpaid bills behind him.

"I am told that young man is dreadfully in debt," said Mr. Prong to
Mrs. Prime. At this time Mr. Prong and Mrs. Prime saw each other
daily, and were affectionate in their intercourse,--with a serious,
solemn affection; but affairs were by no means settled between them.
That affection was, however, strong enough to induce Mr. Prong to
take a decided part in opposing the Rowan alliance. "They say he owes
money all over the town."

"So Miss Pucker tells me," said Mrs. Prime.

"Does your mother know it?"

"Mother never knows anything that other people know. But he has gone
now, and I don't suppose we shall hear of him or see him again."

"He has not written to her, Dorothea?"

"Not that I know of."

"You should find out. You should not leave them in this danger. Your
mother is weak, and you should give her the aid of your strength.
The girl is your sister, and you should not leave her to grope in
darkness. You should remember, Dorothea, that you have a duty in this
matter."

Dorothea did not like being told of her duty in so pastoral a manner,
and resolved to be more than ever particular in the protection of
her own pecuniary rights before she submitted herself to Mr. Prong's
marital authority once and for ever. By Miss Pucker she was at any
rate treated with great respect, and was allowed perhaps some display
of pastoral manner on her own part. It began to be with her a matter
of doubt whether she might not be of more use in that free vineyard
which she was about to leave, than in that vineyard with closed doors
and a pastoral overseer, which she was preparing herself to enter. At
any rate she would be careful about the money. But, in the mean time,
she did agree with Mr. Prong that Rowan's proper character should
be made known to her mother, and with this view she went out to the
cottage and whispered into Mrs. Ray's astonished ears the fact that
Luke was terribly in debt.

"You don't say so!"

"But I do say so, mother. Everybody in Baslehurst is talking about
it. And they all say that he has treated Mr. Tappitt shamefully. Has
anything come from him since he went?"

Then Mrs. Ray told her elder daughter of the letter, and told her
also