“But there is no need,” she protested.  “We are practically there.  Do you really live this way?”

“Yes.  Quite close to the worthy Mrs. Rickett too.  I am not an engineer.  I am the village schoolmaster.”

He announced the fact with absolute directness.  It was Juliet’s turn to look surprised.  She almost gasped.

“You—­you!”

“Yes, I. Why not?” He met her look of astonishment with a smile.  “Have I given you a shock?”

She recovered herself with an answering smile.  “No, of course not.  I might have guessed.  I wonder I didn’t.”

“But how could you guess?” he questioned.  “Have I the manners of a pedagogue?”

“No,” she said again.  “No, of course not.  Only—­I have been hearing a good deal about you to-day; not in your capacity of schoolmaster, but as—­Brother Dick.”

“Ah!” he said sharply, and just for a moment she thought he was either embarrassed or annoyed, but whatever the feeling he covered it instantly.  “You have talked to my brother Robin?”

“Yes,” she said.  “He is the only person I have talked to besides Mrs. Rickett.  We met on the shore.”

“I hope he behaved himself,” he said.  “You weren’t afraid of him, I hope.”

“No; poor lad!  Why should I be?” Juliet spoke very gently, very pitifully.  “I have a feeling that Robin and I are going to be friends,” she said.

“You are very good,” he said, in a low voice.  “He hasn’t many friends, poor chap.  But he’s very faithful to those he’s got.  Most people are so revolted by his appearance that they never get any farther.  And he’s shy too—­very naturally.  How did he come to speak to you?”

She hesitated.  “It was I who spoke first,” she said, in a moment.

“Really!  What made you do that?”

She hesitated again.

He looked at her with sudden attention.  “He did something that made you speak.  What was it, please?”

His tone was peremptory, almost curt, Juliet hesitated no longer.

“Do you mind if I don’t answer that question?” she said.

“He will tell me if you don’t,” he returned, with a certain hardness that made her wonder if he were angered by her refusal.

“That wouldn’t be fair of you,” she said gently, “when I specially don’t want you to know.”

“You don’t want me to know?” he said.

“I should tell you myself if I did,” she pointed out.

“I see.”  He reflected for a moment; then:  “Will you promise to tell me if he ever does it again?” he said.

Juliet laughed with a feeling of almost inordinate relief.  “Yes, certainly.  I know he never will.”

“Then that’s the end of that,” he said.

“Thank you,” said Juliet.

They had reached the road that turned up to the village, and the light from a large lamp some distance up the hill shone down upon them.

“That is where Mr. Fielding lives,” said Green, as they walked towards it.  “Those are his lodge-gates.  No doubt you have heard of him too.  He is the great man of the place.  He owns it, in fact.”