‘Why, what’s wrong, mother?’ he asked quickly.  ‘Have you had bad news?’

‘No, Henry.  I have been with Christina Shine.’

‘You.  You, mother?’ he cried, in surprise.  ‘Not—­’ He suddenly recollected himself and was silent.  He knew his mother to be incapable of a cruel or vindictive action.

’Mrs. Haddon told me how the poor girl was suffering for her father’s villainy, and I was deeply sorry for her.  I thought that under the circumstances my sympathy might strengthen her.’

‘God bless you for that, mother’ said Harry fervently, and his mother looked at him sharply, surprised by his tone.

‘Shine has been arrested,’ she said.  ’The police have taken him in to Yarraman.’

‘Taken—­Shine taken!’

‘He was captured while I was there.’  Mrs. Hardy told her son the story of Shine’s arrest, and Harry sat with set teeth and eyes intent for some minutes after she had finished.

‘My boy,’ his mother said, placing a hand upon his shoulder, ’this does not seem to please you.

His head fell a little, and he opened and clenched again the strong hands gripped between his knees.

‘And yet,’ she continued, ’it confirms your suspicions.  It may mean the assertion of Frank’s innocence.’

‘I love her!’ he said with some passion.

His mother was greatly startled, and stood for a moment regarding him with an expression of deep feeling.

‘You love her—­his daughter?’

‘With all my heart, mother.’

‘Since when?’

‘I don’t know.  Since that Sunday in the chapel, I believe.’

‘And she?’

‘She loves me.’

Mrs. Hardy moved to a chair, sat down with her face turned from him, and stayed for many minutes apparently lost in thought.  She started, hearing Harry at the door.

‘Where are you going?’ she asked.

‘To see Chris.’  He answered in a tone hinting defiance, as if expecting antagonism; but his mother said nothing more, and He passed out.

Harry found Chris sitting alone in her father’s house.  A candle burned on the table by her side, her hands lay idly in her lap.  He had expected to find her weeping, surrounded by women, but her eyes were tearless and the news of Shine’s arrest was not yet known in the township.  Harry fell on his knees by her side and clasped her about the waist.  There was a sort of dull apathy in her face that awed him.  He did not kiss her.

‘I’ve heard, dear,’ he whispered.  ‘All’s over.’

‘Yes,’ she said, looking at him for the first time, without surprise.

‘Why are you sitting here?’ he asked.

‘I’m waiting for Dickie Haddon,’ she said listlessly.  ’He went to Yarraman to buy some things to make a disguise.  It is only fair to wait.’

He was touched with profound pity; but her mood chilled him, he dared not offer a caress.

‘And then?’