As I walked homewards by myself I wondered I had been so bold, but I would not have said one word less had the interview come over again. I read the old man’s selfishness at a glance. He was afraid of losing Charteris as a boarder and money-lender if he brought him to book for his actions, and he preferred to risk his innocent little daughter’s happiness to giving up a few of his creature-comforts. How despicable and mean he appeared to me as I reviewed the conversation that had just taken place between us. I was hurrying home, with my eyes on the ground and my thoughts all engrossed with the subject in hand, when I was attracted by a loud shouting and hallooing, and, looking up, perceived some one in front of me long and lanky, waving his arms round and round like a windmill. ‘Hollo, Miss Marsh! don’t you know me?’ he exclaimed; and then I recognised my youthful companion of the steamboat, Master Frederick Stephenson. ‘Why, Master Fred, is that really you?’ I said, as I shook hands with him. ‘I believe you have grown, even in the short time since I saw you. And does your cousin expect you? He said nothing to us about it.’ ‘Expect me! Not he, the scrubby fellow! He promised a dozen times that he’d ask me over here for a day’s shooting, and I’ve written almost every week to remind him, but ’twas no go. So I got old Felton to give me a holiday, and took French leave; and here I am, and if Cave don’t like it, he can do the other thing, for I don’t mean to go back till my time’s up.’ ‘And when will that be?’ ‘Last train this evening; but I say, by Jove! Miss Marsh, how jolly you look! You’re twice as fat as you were when we crossed over together, and you’ve got such a colour. You’re first rate, you are.’ ‘Am I?’ I said, hardly able to help laughing at the rough compliment, though I felt so sad. ‘I am glad you think so, Fred, for I would much rather look nice to my friends than nasty.’ ‘Well, you do look nice, then, and no mistake. And are both the Miss Lovetts at home?’ ‘Yes.’ ‘I’m in luck, by George! won’t that beggar Charteris be surprised to see me walk in! I’d a mind to show him I was not going to be humbugged in that way. He thought he’d keep all the fun to himself, I suppose.’ ‘I am afraid you have not come on a shooting-day, at least I heard nothing about it this morning.’ ‘I don’t mind. I’d rather stay with you. Is that the house? It _is_ pretty! Just like an old Swiss châlet. And, by the way, Miss Marsh, how do you get on with old Lovett?’ concluded the young gentleman, with a peculiar twinkle in his eye. ‘Oh! very well. How should I get on with him?’ ‘Isn’t he a good, pious, benevolent, amiable old gentleman, eh? Isn’t he self-denying, and prudent, and saving, and all that sort of thing?’ ‘Hold your tongue, sir,’ I replied, ‘and don’t speak in that way of your betters.’ For all the windows and doors were open, and I had no wish that Tessie or Ange should overhear the remarks of my impudent young friend.