Bell got up and when he went out Osborn turned to Hayes.  “What did the fellow mean?  He said you knew!”

“It’s dangerous ground and I frankly wish he’d told you to ask somebody else.  However, there is some gossip—­”

“Go on,” said Osborn sternly.  “Whom are they gossiping about?”

“Miss Osborn, since you insist.”

Osborn clenched his fist and the veins rose on his forehead as he said, “And young Askew?”

Hayes made a sign of agreement and Osborn, getting up, walked across the floor.  He came back with a savage sparkle in his eyes and stood in front of Hayes.

“Tell me what you know.”

With a pretense of reluctance, Hayes obeyed.  He told Osborn about Grace’s visit to Railton’s and hinted that she had gone to find out if Kit had brought the sheep.  Then he narrated their meeting in the dark near Creighton’s farm and stated his grounds for imagining she had ridden down the hill on the first load of peat.  Hayes was tactful and apologetic, but he made it plain that the girl was in Kit’s confidence and had known his plans.

Osborn stopped him with a savage gesture.  His face was deeply flushed and his voice was hoarse as he said:  “That is enough.  The thing looks impossible!  I must try to find out what foundation there is for the ridiculous tale.”

“I shall be relieved if you do find it is ridiculous,” said Hayes, who went off soon afterwards.

For some minutes Osborn leaned against the mantel with his hands clenched, for he had got a shock.  He admitted that the Osborns had some faults, but they were the Tarnside Osborns and had ruled the dale for a very long time.  It was something to spring from such a stock, and the wilful girl had disgraced them all.  Osborn had suspected Grace of holding dangerous modern views, but it was unthinkably humiliating that she had engaged in a flirtation with a farmer’s son.

He had declared the thing impossible, but he feared it was true.  Hayes had been very clear about her visit to Railton’s, and her coming down Malton Head on Askew’s sledge was ominous.  She must have been strongly attracted by Kit since she had done a thing like that.  Besides, she had obviously sympathized with, and perhaps helped, his plans.  This was treachery, because it was a tradition of the Osborns that they stood together.

By and by he heard voices in the hall and braced himself.  He must go down to receive his guests and was glad that they had come, since he did not want to tell his wife about the matter yet; in fact, he did not think he would talk to Grace.  The thing was humiliating, and there was a possibility that Hayes had been mistaken.  Osborn resolved to watch the girl and then insist on a reckoning if she gave him grounds for doing so.

He went down and carried out his hospitable duties.  Next morning he arranged for a day’s shooting; the snow had nearly gone and there were a few pheasants left in Redmire wood.  The party started early, taking their lunch, and in the afternoon Grace left Tarnside and walked down the dale.  She had no particular object, but the day was fine and she wondered whether Kit had brought all the peat from Malton Head.