Arthur rose and said in a decided tone: "Well, I'm out of it. She saved your life, and she's in love with you. It seems to me your duty's pretty plain. You must drop your other fancy." "My other fancy?" exclaimed Dale in horror. Lived there a man who could call his love for Janet a "fancy"? "You'd break her heart," said Arthur, who thought of no one but his lady-love in his unselfish devotion. It crossed Dale's mind to say that the situation seemed to involve the breaking of one heart at least, if Arthur were right; but he thought he had no right to speak of Janet's feelings, well as he knew them. He threw the poker down with a clang. "Take care--you'll disturb her." This annoyed Dale. "My good fellow," he remarked, "we're not all, except you, entirely indifferent whether she lives or dies. I might throw pokers about all day--and I feel inclined to--without her hearing me in the blue room." "Oh, I beg pardon," said Arthur, turning to the window and looking out. He saw a stout man coming up the hill. It was the Mayor of Denborough, and he was evidently making for Littlehill. When he was ushered into the smoking room, he explained that he had come to ask after Miss Fane's progress. "The town, Mr. Bannister, sir," he said, "is takin' a great interest in the young lady." "I am glad to say she has, we think, turned the corner," said Dale. "That's happy news for all--and you first of all, sir." The Mayor might merely have meant that Dale's feelings would be most acute, as Nellie had received her wound in his service; but there was a disconcerting twinkle in the Mayor's eye. "Mrs. Roberts," the Mayor continued, "is doin' first rate. After all, it's a riddance for her, sir. Have you any news from the Grange?" "I hear there is no change in Miss Delane. She still suffers from the shock." "Poor young lady! I hear the Captain's back at the Warren, sir." "What?" "Captain Ripley, sir. Back at home." "Oh!" The Mayor was bursting with suppressed gossip on this point also, but the atmosphere was most repressive. He looked round in despair for another opening, and his eye fell on Arthur Angell. "Seen the _Chronicle_, sir?" he asked. "That Mingley's a sharp young chap. Still I don't 'old--hold with all that talk about people. Did you say you'd seen it, sir?" "Yes, I've seen it. It's mostly lies." "He, he!" chuckled the Mayor. "You're right, sir." A long pause ensued before the Mayor very reluctantly took his hat. "I hope we shall see Miss Fane about soon, sir?" he said. "Oh, I hope so. I think so, if nothing goes wrong." "She must be proud and happy, that young lady, sir. As I said to my daughters, says I: 'Now, girls, which of you is goin' to save your young man's life?' And my wife, Mrs. Hedger, sir, she put in: 'None of you, I'll be bound, if you don't----'" The anecdote was lost, for Dale interrupted: "Let me see you as far as the gate," and pushed the Mayor's walking-stick into his hand.