‘That was beautiful, Larry,’ she exclaimed, with glowing cheeks. ‘I could hear the sound of your feet and Miss Rosa’s above all the others, even when you went to the further end of the barn. It must be lovely to be able to dance like that. But it has made you thirsty, Larry. That’s the third glass, isn’t it?’ ‘Yes, lass, it’s made me thirsty. But don’t you keep counting my glasses all the evening, or I shall move your chair a bit further off.’ She laughed quietly, and he flung himself upon the ground and rested his arm upon her knee. He seemed to feel safer and more at peace when by Lizzie’s side, and she was quite happy in the knowledge that he was there. The Mavis Farm party did not dance again after the ball had been opened, at least Miss Rosa did not. But she moved about the barn restlessly. Sometimes she was in, and sometimes she was out. She did not seem to know her own mind for two minutes together. ‘Why is that fellow Darley skulking about here, Larry?’ demanded Isaac Barnes of his nephew. ‘I’ve seen his ugly face peeping into the barn a dozen times. Why don’t he come in or stay out? I hate such half-and-half sneaking ways.’ Larry muttered an oath, and was about to make some reply, when George Murray came up to them. ‘Is that Mr Darley I see hanging about the barn door, Isaac?’ he inquired of their own keeper. ‘That it be, Master George; and as I was just saying to Larry here, why not in or out? What need of dodging? He don’t want to catch no one here, I suppose?’ ‘He’d better try. I’d soon teach him who the barn belongs to.’ ‘And I’d back you, Master George,’ cried Larry resolutely. The strong-brewed Norfolk ale was giving him a dash of Dutch courage. ‘Would you, Larry? That’s right! Well, I can’t be in all parts of the barn at once, and father wants me to take the bottom of the supper-table, so you keep your eye on Mr Darley for me, will you? and if he looks up to anything, let me know.’ ‘I’m your man, Master George,’ replied Larry heartily.