“That remains to be seen,” rejoined Potts, “I have made the entry as on the left.”

“Go on, Master Nicholas,” said Nowell, “I should like to see how many other errors that plan contains.”

“Passing the rivulet,” pursued the squire, “we come to a footpath leading to the limestone quarry, about which there can be no mistake.  Then by Cat Gallows Wood and Swallow Hole; and then by another path to Worston Moor, skirting a hut in the occupation of James Device—­ha! ha!  Master Jem, are you here?  I thought you dwelt with your grandmother at Malkin Tower—­excuse me, Master Nowell, but one must relieve the dulness of this plan by an exclamation or so—­and here being waste land again, the landmarks are certain stones set at intervals towards Hook Cliff, and giving Mistress Nutter two-thirds of the whole moor, and Master Roger Nowell one-third.”

“False again,” cried Nowell, furiously.  “The two-thirds are mine, the one-third Mistress Nutter’s.”

“Somebody must be very wrong,” cried Nicholas.

“Very wrong indeed,” added Potts; “and I suspect that that somebody is—­”

“Master Nowell,” said Mistress Nutter.

“Mistress Nutter,” cried Master Nowell.

“Both are wrong and both right, according to your own showing,” said Nicholas, laughing.

“To-morrow will decide the question,” said Potts.

“Better wait till then,” interposed Sir Ralph.  “Take both plans with you, and you will then ascertain which is correct.”

“Agreed,” cried Nowell.  “Here is mine.”

“And here is mine,” said Mistress Nutter.  “I will abide by the investigation.”

“And Master Potts and I will verify the statements,” said Nicholas.

“We will, sir,” replied the attorney, putting his memorandum book in his pocket.  “We will.”

The plans were then delivered to the custody of Sir Ralph, who promised to hand them over to Potts and Nicholas on the morrow.

The party then separated; Mistress Nutter shaping her course towards the window where Alizon and the two other young people were seated, while Potts, plucking the squire’s sleeve, said, with a very mysterious look, that he desired a word with him in private.  Wondering what could be the nature of the communication the attorney desired to make, Nicholas withdrew with him into a corner, and Nowell, who saw them retire, and could not help watching them with some curiosity, remarked that the squire’s hilarious countenance fell as he listened to the attorney, while, on the contrary, the features of the latter gleamed with malicious satisfaction.

Meanwhile, Mistress Nutter approached Alizon, and beckoning her towards her, they quitted the room together.  As the young girl went forth, she cast a wistful look at Dorothy and her brother.

“You think with me, that that lovely girl is well born?” said Dorothy, as Alizon disappeared.

“It were heresy to doubt it,” answered Richard.