‘Oh, yes, I will give it her,’ she replied, rather nervously again.

’Will you say that I would gladly have thanked her myself, if it had been possible?’

‘Yes, Mr. Eldon, I will say that.’

Something in Hubert’s voice seemed to cause Letty to raise her eyes again.

‘You wish me to thank her?’ she added; inconsequently perhaps, but with a certain significance.

‘If you will be so kind.’

Hubert wanted to say more, but found it difficult to discover the right words.  Letty, too, tried to shadow forth something that was in her mind, but with no better success.

‘If I remember,’ Hubert said, pausing in his walk, ’this stile will be my shortest way across to the Vicarage.  Thank you much for your kindness.’

He had raised his hat and was turning, but Letty impulsively put forth her hand.  ‘Good-bye,’ he said, in a friendly voice, as he took the little fingers.  ’I wish the old days were back again, and we were going to have tea together as we used to.’

Mr. Wyvern’s face gave no promise of cheerful intelligence as he welcomed his visitor.

‘What is the origin of this, I wonder?’ he said, handing Hubert the ‘Belwick Chronicle.’

The state of the young man’s nerves was not well adapted to sustain fresh irritation.  He turned pale with anger.

‘Is this going the round of Wanley?’

‘Probably.  I had it from Mrs. Waltham.’

‘Did you contradict it?’

‘As emphatically as I could.’

‘I will see the man who edits this to-morrow,’ cried Hubert hotly.  ‘But perhaps he is too great a blackguard to talk with.’

’It purports to come, you see, from a London correspondent.  But I suppose the source is nearer.’

‘You mean—­you think that man Mutimer has originated it?’

‘I scarcely think that.’

’Yet it is more than likely.  I will go to the Manor at once.  At least he shall give me yes or no.’

He had started to his feet, but the vicar laid a hand on his shoulder.

‘I’m afraid you can’t do that.’

‘Why not?’

’Consider.  You have no kind of right to charge him with such a thing.  And there is another reason:  he proposed to Miss Waltham this morning, and she accepted him.’

’This morning?  And this paper is yesterday’s.  Why, it makes it more likely than ever.  How did they get the paper?  Doubtless he sent it them.  If she has accepted him this very day—­’

The repetition of the words seemed to force their meaning upon him through his anger.  His voice failed.

‘You tell me that Adela Waltham has engaged herself to that man?’

‘Her mother told me, only a few minutes after it occurred.’

‘Then it was this that led her to consent.’

‘Surely that is presupposing too much, my dear Eldon,’ said the vicar gently.

’No, not more than I know to be true.  I could not say that to anyone but you; you must understand me.  The girl is being cheated into marrying that fellow.  Of her own free will she could not do it.  This is one of numberless lies.  You are right; it’s no use to go to him:  he wouldn’t tell the truth.  But she must be told.  How can I see her?’