Susan was too well accustomed to Polly’s usage to complain.  She murmured a gentle ‘Good night, sir,’ and retired.  Whereupon Polly exclaimed:  ’Bless her poor dear soft heart!  It ’s us hard ones that get on best in the world.  I’m treated better than her, Mr. Harrington, and I know I ain’t worth half of her.  It goes nigh to make one religious, only to see how exactly like Scripture is the way Beckley treats her, whose only sin is her being so soft as to believe in a man!  Oh, dear!  Mr. Harrington!  I wish I had good news for you.’

In spite of all his self-control, Evan breathed quickly and looked eagerly.

‘Speak it out, Polly.’

‘Oh, dear!  I must, I suppose,’ Polly answered.  ’Mr. Laxley’s become a lord now, Mr. Harrington.’

Evan tasted in his soul the sweets of contrast.  ‘Well?’

‘And my Miss Rose—­she—­’

‘What?’

Moved by the keen hunger of his eyes, Polly hesitated.  Her face betrayed a sudden change of mind.

‘Wants to see you, sir,’ she said, resolutely.

‘To see me?’

Evan stood up, so pale that Polly was frightened.

‘Where is she?  Where can I meet her?’

‘Please don’t take it so, Mr. Harrington.’

Evan commanded her to tell him what her mistress had said.

Now up to this point Polly had spoken truth.  She was positive her mistress did want to see him.  Polly, also, with a maiden’s tender guile, desired to bring them together for once, though it were for the last time, and for no good on earth.  She had been about to confide to him her young mistress’s position toward Lord Laxley, when his sharp interrogation stopped her.  Shrinking from absolute invention, she remarked that of course she could not exactly remember Miss Rose’s words; which seemed indeed too much to expect of her.

‘She will see me to-night?’ said Evan.

‘I don’t know about to-night,’ Polly replied.

’Go to her instantly.  Tell her I am ready.  I will be at the West park-gates.  This is why you wrote, Polly?  Why did you lose time?  Don’t delay, my good girl!  Come!’

Evan had opened the door.  He would not allow Polly an instant for expostulation; but drew her out, saying, ’You will attend to the gates yourself.  Or come and tell me the day, if she appoints another.’

Polly made a final effort to escape from the pit she was being pushed into.

’Mr. Harrington! it wasn’t to tell you this I wrote.

Miss Rose is engaged, sir.’

‘I understand,’ said Evan, hoarsely, scarcely feeling it, as is the case with men who are shot through the heart.

Ten minutes later he was on horseback by the Fallow field gates, with the tidings shrieking through his frame.  The night was still, and stiller in the pauses of the nightingales.  He sat there, neither thinking of them nor reproached in his manhood for the tears that rolled down his cheeks.  Presently his horse’s ears pricked, and the animal gave a low neigh.  Evan’s eyes fixed harder on the length of gravel leading to the house.  There was no sign, no figure.  Out from the smooth grass of the lane a couple of horsemen issued, and came straight to the gates.  He heard nothing till one spoke.  It was a familiar voice.