n terror."

"I wish you would go, Roger."

"Why, mother?"

"Because I love her, and I think, I am sure, you will never be happy
unless you do."

"But, mother, do you think that----"

"Nay, Roger, I would not tell you if I could. It is for you to
discover that."

I could not bear to talk any more about it just then, so to change the
conversation I asked her if she had seen Wilfred.

"No," she replied, "but I am not surprised at that he has gone away for
weeks together sometimes, and I have had no idea where he has been."

I was about to ask another question when I heard a voice behind me.

"Right glad to see 'ee, Maaster Roger."

"Bill Tregargus," I said, "and I am glad to see you."

There was an uneasy look on his face, however, and although he touched
his hat to my mother, and made many remarks about his happiness at
finding me home once more, I saw that something was wrong.

"Cud I ave a vew words in private with 'ee?" said Bill, at length.

"Certainly," I said, and my mother, evidently thinking that Bill had
come relative to some matter connected with the estate, left us.

"Ave 'ee seed yer brother, sur?" said Bill, as soon as she was gone.

"Yes, last night."

"'Scuse me, sur; but was 'ee friendly?"

I did not resent this question, for Bill knew of our past relations, he
knew what I had said when I heard of Wilfred's cruelty to Ruth.

"No," I said.

"You'll forgive me, Maaster Roger," went on Bill, "but I've got a
raison for axin'; was anything said about Miss Ruth?"

"Nothing definite. Why?"

"Maaster Roger," said Bill, as if feeling his way, "people do zay as
'ow he will never stand no chance wi' Miss Ruth now, but do 'ee think
'ee wudd'n try to kip you from 'avin' 'er?"

"I think he would," I cried. "But what then?"

"Maaster Roger, I'm afraid he'll bait 'ee after all, ef you doan't
maake haste."

"I don't understand; tell me what you mean quickly."

"Well, Maaster Roger, yesterday I was over to Polcoath Downs. As you
knaw, 'tes 'bout fifteen mile from here. I've got a brother as do live
there, the waun younger'n me. You remember Daniel, doan't 'ee?"

"Very well. Go on quickly."

"Well, I 'adn't seed un for a long time, so I stayed till nearly
mornin', and as I was comin' on the road 'bout an hour afore daylight I
heerd the sound of hosses. I was goin' down a steep hill when I heerd
it, and I wondered who twas comin' at that time. In a minute more I
seed two men comin'