Poor Stockdale was dreadfully depressed all the next day by the discoveries of the night before.  Lizzy was unmistakably a fascinating young woman, but as a minister’s wife she was hardly to be contemplated.  ’If I had only stuck to father’s little grocery business, instead of going in for the ministry, she would have suited me beautifully!’ he said sadly, until he remembered that in that case he would never have come from his distant home to Nether-Moynton, and never have known her.

The estrangement between them was not complete, but it was sufficient to keep them out of each other’s company.  Once during the day he met her in the garden-path, and said, turning a reproachful eye upon her, ’Do you promise, Lizzy?’ But she did not reply.  The evening drew on, and he knew well enough that Lizzy would repeat her excursion at night—­her half-offended manner had shown that she had not the slightest intention of altering her plans at present.  He did not wish to repeat his own share of the adventure; but, act as he would, his uneasiness on her account increased with the decline of day.  Supposing that an accident should befall her, he would never forgive himself for not being there to help, much as he disliked the idea of seeming to countenance such unlawful escapades.

CHAPTER V—­HOW THEY WENT TO LULSTEAD COVE

As he had expected, she left the house at the same hour at night, this time passing his door without stealth, as if she knew very well that he would be watching, and were resolved to brave his displeasure.  He was quite ready, opened the door quickly, and reached the back door almost as soon as she.

‘Then you will go, Lizzy?’ he said as he stood on the step beside her, who now again appeared as a little man with a face altogether unsuited to his clothes.

‘I must,’ she said, repressed by his stern manner.

‘Then I shall go too,’ said he.

‘And I am sure you will enjoy it!’ she exclaimed in more buoyant tones.  ‘Everybody does who tries it.’

‘God forbid that I should!’ he said.  ‘But I must look after you.’

They opened the wicket and went up the road abreast of each other, but at some distance apart, scarcely a word passing between them.  The evening was rather less favourable to smuggling enterprise than the last had been, the wind being lower, and the sky somewhat clear towards the north.

‘It is rather lighter,’ said Stockdale.

‘’Tis, unfortunately,’ said she.  ’But it is only from those few stars over there.  The moon was new to-day at four o’clock, and I expected clouds.  I hope we shall be able to do it this dark, for when we have to sink ’em for long it makes the stuff taste bleachy, and folks don’t like it so well.’