The wind, rarely silent in this part of Devon, blew boisterously from the south-west.  A far-off whistle, that of a train speeding up the valley on its way from Plymouth, heightened the sense of retirement and quietude always to be enjoyed at night here under the stars.

‘Have you been thinking over my suggestion?’ asked Sylvia, when there had been silence awhile.

‘No,’ was the murmured reply.

‘Something has happened, I think.’

’Yes.  I should like to tell you, Sylvia, but’——­

’But’——­

’I must tell you!  I can’t keep it in my own mind, and you are the only one’——­

Sylvia was surprised at the agitation which suddenly revealed itself in her companion’s look and voice.  She became serious, her eyes brightening with intellectual curiosity.  Feminine expressions of sympathy were not to be expected from Miss Moorhouse; far more reassuring to Sidwell was the kind attentiveness with which her friend bent forward.

‘That letter father handed me to-day was from Mr. Peak.’

‘You hear from him?’

‘This is the third time—­since he went away.  At our last meeting’ —­her voice dropped—­’I pledged my faith to him.—­Not absolutely.  The future was too uncertain’——­

The gleam in Sylvia’s eyes grew more vivid.  She was profoundly interested, and did not speak when Sidwell’s voice failed.

‘You never suspected this?’ asked the latter, in a few moments.

’Not exactly that.  What I did suspect was that Mr. Peak’s departure resulted from—­your rejection of him.’

‘There is more to be told,’ pursued Sidwell, in tremulous accents.  ’You must know it all—­because I need your help.  No one here has learnt what took place between us.  Mr. Peak did not go away on that account.  But—­you remember being puzzled to explain his orthodoxy in religion?’

She paused.  Sylvia gave a nod, signifying much.

‘He never believed as he professed,’ went on Sidwell, hurriedly.  ’You were justified in doubting him.  He concealed the truth—­ pretended to champion the old faiths’——­

For an instant she broke off, then hastened through a description of the circumstances which had brought about Peak’s discovery.  Sylvia could not restrain a smile, but it was softened by the sincere kindliness of her feeling.

‘And it was after this,’ she inquired impartially, ’that the decisive conversation between you took place?’

’No; just before Buckland’s announcement.  We met again, after that.  —­Does it seem incredible to you that I should have let the second meeting end as it did?’

’I think I understand.  Yes, I know you well enough to follow it.  I can even guess at the defence he was able to urge.’

‘You can?’ asked Sidwell, eagerly.  ’You see a possibility of his defending himself?’

’I should conjecture that it amounted to the old proverb, “All’s fair in love and war”.  And, putting aside a few moral prejudices, one can easily enough absolve him.—­The fact is, I had long ago surmised that his motives in taking to such a career had more reference to this world than the next.  You know, I had several long talks with him; I told you how he interested me.  Now I can piece together my conclusions.’