Helen nodded.

“Helen, what ’ud thy mother say?”

“It was because of Andrew Dean that I came to live in Bursley,” said she.  “I knew I shouldn’t see him often enough if I stayed in Longshaw.  So I came here.  You know we had always liked each other, I think, ever since he spent two years at Longshaw at Spitz Brothers’.  Then I didn’t see him for some time.  You know how rude and awkward he is.  Well, there was a coolness.  And then we didn’t see each other for another long time.  And then when I next saw him I knew I really was in love with him. (Of course, I never said anything to mother.  One doesn’t, you know.  And she was so taken up with her own affairs, poor dear!) And I thought he was really fond of me.  I thought so because he was so cross and queer.  He’s like that, you know.  And, after all, it was not that that made him cross and queer.  It was just because he was as good as engaged to Lilian, and he didn’t like to tell me.  And I never knew.  How could I guess?  I’d never heard there was anything between him and Lilian.  And besides, although he was cross and queer, he said things to me that he oughtn’t to have said, considering how he was carrying on with Lilian.  It was then that I settled on coming to Bursley.  There was no reason why I should stay in Longshaw.  I saw him again in Longshaw, after he was engaged to Lilian, and yet he never told me!  And then, when I come here, the first thing I hear is that he’s engaged to Lilian.  It was that afternoon when Sarah called; do you remember, uncle?”

He remembered.

“I saw Mr. Dean that night, and somehow I told him what I thought of him.  I don’t know how it began; but I did.  He said he couldn’t help being engaged to Lilian.  He said it was one of those engagements that go on by themselves, and you can’t stop them.  He wanted to stop it.  But he was engaged before he knew where he was—­so he says.  He said he preferred me, and if he’d known—­So of course I was obliged to be very angry with him.  That was why I didn’t speak to him at first at Mrs. Prockter’s; at least, that was partly why.  The other reason was that he had accused me of running after Emanuel—­of all people!  I had been, you know.  But what had that got to do with Andrew, seeing that he was engaged to Lilian?  Besides, I’d been doing it on purpose.  And he was so insolent.  And then, to crown all, Mrs. Prockter makes me dance with him.  No wonder I fainted!  He is the rudest, rudest, crudest man I ever knew.”

She wiped her eyes.

“H’m!” mused James.

“He’ll simply kill poor little Lilian!” She sobbed.

“What’s that got to do with you, if you and Emanuel has got nothing to do with him?  It isn’t you as’ll be hung when Lilian’s murdered.”

“Can’t you see he mustn’t marry Lilian?” Helen burst out.  “Silly little thing!  How can she understand him?  She’s miles beneath him.”