“And you can’t see a way of getting over the difficulty?”

Kit said he could not and Grace’s eyes twinkled.

“Then I can.  I’ll show you a way, if you’re not too proud to take advice from a girl.”

“Certainly not,” Kit said, smiling.  “I don’t know why you think I’m proud.”

“Then perhaps you’re obstinate; some of the dalesfolk are.”

“We’re slow.  We like to try things properly; and then, perhaps we stick to them longer than is needful if we find them good.  But caution’s prudent.”

“You’re very cautious now,” Grace rejoined.  “You don’t seem curious about my plan.  Are you afraid it isn’t practical?”

“No,” said Kit, rather earnestly; “since it’s yours, it’s no doubt good.”  Then he pulled himself up and added with a twinkle:  “But I haven’t heard it yet.”

“Well, while your difficulty is that the peat comes down too fast, I think it does not go fast enough.  You are afraid about your horses, but you needn’t use them.  The stone-boats would run down alone.  Do you understand now?”

Kit started.  “I expect you have found the way, Miss Osborn, and we owe you some thanks.  In fact, you’re cleverer than the lot!”

“The admission doesn’t seem to hurt you,” Grace rejoined.  “But I imagine to feel you had to make it was something of a shock.”

“No,” said Kit, with a laugh she liked.  “We’re often dull and our womenfolk have helped us much.  But somehow I did not expect—­”

He stopped, and Grace gave him a level glance.

“You mean you did not expect help from me?”

“Well,” he said, “I suppose I did mean something like that”

“Then I’m glad you owned it, because it allows me to clear the ground.  I don’t want poor people to be cold in winter in order that Bell may get rich.  Neither does my father want it—­you must believe this!  He doesn’t know all that goes on; Hayes hides things from him.  There is no reason I shouldn’t help you to spoil Bell’s plot.”

Kit was silent for a few moments.  The girl had pluck and he liked her frankness.  She was trying to persuade herself Osborn was not unjust, and, although he imagined she found it hard, he did not mean to make it harder.  One must respect her staunchness.

“Bell is our real antagonist and he’s an awkward man to beat,” he said.  “However, the hint you have given us ought to be useful.  I’ll look for a way down when we get to the top.”

Grace warned him about the inclination of the hillside to the rocks and stopped at the bottom of the crag.

“I think I’ll go across the hill and watch the first sledge come down, if you’re not too long,” she said and paused for a moment.  “Perhaps you needn’t tell the others it was my plan.”

Kit said he would not do so and was strangely satisfied as he went on with his horses.  He understood her hesitation; it was delightful to feel that she had given him her confidence and they shared a secret.  At the top, he found the others had loaded the sledges and were ready to start.  Since the dales folk are conservative, he had expected some opposition to his plan, but they listened attentively and an old man supported him.