“I’ll tell you what you can do, miss, if you feel so sorry for him. Ask him to come back with you to the house and he will do so without any trouble.” Chris was reluctant to do this for several reasons. “But he won’t understand,” she said, softly, turning so that Mr. Richard should not hear. Stelfox’s straight mouth lengthened into a smile. “Just you try him, miss,” said he. So Chris turned again to the silent man. “Will you come back with me to the house?” she asked, with a gesture in the direction of the mansion. His face lighted up at once, and as Stelfox freed his arm he turned and walked beside her along the path through the meadow. They went in silence, for although Chris was so full of pity and of sympathy that she longed to express her feelings in some way, his silence made intercourse difficult. When they reached the gate into the garden, Stelfox came up to them. “You had better go on by yourself, miss, now,” said he. It was evident that Mr. Richard understood this too, for his face clouded. Chris held out her hand to him with a smile. He took it in both his and held it for some seconds, while his wistful eyes gazed upon her face with a look of despair which touched her to the quick. When she had withdrawn her hand and run along the path for a few paces, she heard again the weird, harsh sounds which seemed the only form of speech of which the poor fellow was capable. Glancing round, she saw that he was engaged in some sort of altercation with Stelfox over which he was getting very much excited. A few moments after, Stelfox left him and ran up to her. “The poor young gentleman is in a great way, miss,” he said, “because he’s afraid he won’t see you again.” Chris drew a sharp breath. This very thought had been troubling her. “_Can_ I see him again, Stelfox?” she asked, almost eagerly. “Would Mr. Bradfield allow it?” One of the dry smiles peculiar to Stelfox for a moment expanded his features without brightening them. “Maybe we won’t trouble him by enquiring, miss,” he said; “but if you would care to see Mr. Richard again, though he isn’t much of a companion for a young lady, I’m afraid, I could manage it. And I can warrant he won’t hurt you.” “Oh, no, I’m sure of that! I wasn’t thinking of that!” “It will be a great kindness, miss, if you’re not afraid,” said Stelfox, almost gratefully. But Chris was looking in perplexity back in the direction of Mr. Richard, who was waiting as quietly as possible by the gate. “Tell me one thing,” said Chris in a puzzled tone. “No, I mean tell me half-a-dozen things.” Stelfox seemed to draw back into himself at her words. “Won’t it do another time, miss, please?” said he, respectfully. “Mr. Richard’s there waiting for me, and he might----”