“None of the people who were in my father’s service will lose their places with me, unless for some very serious fault.  Please”—­and she raised her eyes in pretty appeal to Bainton, “Please make everybody understand that!  Are you one of the foresters here?”

Bainton shook his head.

“No, Miss,—­I’m the Passon’s head man.  I does all his gardening and keeps a few flowers growin’ in the churchyard.  There’s a rose climbin’ over the cross on the old Squire’s grave what will do ye good to see, come another fortnight of this warm weather.  But Passon, he be main worrited about the Five Sisters, and knowin’ as ’ow I’d worked for the old Squire at ‘arvest an,’ sich-like, he thought I might be able to ’splain to ye—­”

“I see!” said Maryllia, thoughtfully, surveying with renewed interest the old-world figure of Josey Letherbarrow in his clean smock-frock.  “Now, how are you going to get Josey home again?” And a smile irradiated her face.  “Will you carry him along just as you brought him?”

“Why, yes, Miss—­it’ll be all goin’ downhill now, and there’s a moon, and it’ll be easy work.  And if so be we’re sure the Five Sisters ’ull be saved—­”

“You may be perfectly certain of it,” said Maryllia interrupting him with a little gesture of decision—­“Only you must impress well on Mr. Spruce here, that my orders are to be obeyed.”

“Beggin’ yer pardon, Miss—­what Spruce is afeard of is that Leach may tell him he’s a liar, and may jest refuse to obey.  That’s quite on the cards, Miss—­it is reely now!”

“Oh, is it, indeed!” and Maryllia’s eyes flashed with a sudden fire that made them look brighter and deeper than ever and revealed a depth of hidden character not lacking in self-will,—­“Well, we shall see!  At any rate, I have given my orders, and I expect them to be carried out!  You understand!”

“I do, Miss;” and Bainton touched his forelock respectfully; “An’ while we’re joggin’ easy downhill with Josey, I’ll get it well rubbed into Spruce.  And, by yer leave, if you hain’t no objection, I’ll tell Passon Walden that sich is your orders, and m’appen he’ll find a way of impressin’ Leach straighter than we can.”  Maryllia was not particularly disposed to have the parson brought into her affairs, but she waived the query lightly aside.

“You can do as you like about that,” she said carelessly; “As the parson is your master, you can of course tell him if you think he will be interested.  But I really don’t see why he should be asked to interfere.  My orders are sufficient.”

A very decided ring of authority in the clear voice warned Bainton that here was a lady who was not to be trifled with, or to be told this or that, or to be put off from her intentions by any influence whatsoever.  He could not very well offer a reply, so he merely touched his forelock again and was discreetly silent.  Maryllia then turned playfully to Josey Letherbarrow.