gs' bill, and had assured herself that
Rowan was by no means minded to surrender his interest in Baslehurst,
determined that the truth should be made known to Mrs. Ray. But she
was not willing to call on Mrs. Ray herself, nor did she wish to
present herself before Rachel at the cottage, unless she could bring
with her some more substantial comfort than could be afforded by
simple evidence as to Rowan's good character. She therefore took
herself to Mrs. Sturt, and discussed the matter with her.

"I suppose she does care about him," said Mrs. Cornbury, sitting in
Mrs. Sturt's little parlour that opened out upon the kitchen garden.
Mrs. Sturt was also seated, leaning on the corner of the table, with
the sleeves of her gown tucked up, ready for work when the Squire's
lady should be gone, but very willing to postpone her work as long as
the Squire's lady would stay and gossip with her.

"Oh! that she do, Mrs. Butler,--in her heart of hearts. If I know
anything of true love, she do love that young man."

"And he did offer to her? There can be no doubt about that, I
suppose."

"Not a doubt on earth, Mrs. Butler. She never told me so
outright,--nor yet didn't her mother;--but if he didn't, I'll give my
head for a cream cheese. Laws love you, Mrs. Butler, I know what's
what well enough. I know when a girl's wild and flighty, and thinks
of things as she oughtn't;--and I know when she's proper behaved, and
gives a young man encouragement only when it becomes her."

"Of course you do, Mrs. Sturt."

"It isn't for me, Mrs. Butler, to say anything against your papa.
Nobody can have more respect for their clergyman than Sturt has and
I; and before it was all settled like, Sturt never had a word with
Mr. Comfort about tithes; but, Mrs. Butler, I think your papa was
wrong here. As far as I can learn, it was he that told Mrs. Ray that
this young man wasn't all that he should be."

"Papa meant it for the best. There were strange things said about
him, you know."

"I never believes one word of what I hears, and never will. People
are such liars; bean't they, Mrs. Butler? And I didn't believe a word
again him. He's as fine a young man as you'd wish to see in a hundred
years, and of course that goes a long way with a young woman. Well,
Mrs. Butler, I'll tell Mrs. Ray what you say, but I'm afeard it's too
late; I'm afeard it is. He's of a stubborn sort, I think. He's one
of them that says, 'If you will not when you may, when you will