There was a short silence. Winnington remained standing, hat in hand. He was in riding dress--a commanding figure, his lean face reddened, and the waves of his grizzled hair slightly loosened, by a buffeting wind. Delia, stealing a glance at him, divined a coming remonstrance, and awaited it with a strange mixture of fear and pleasure. They had not met for ten days; and she stammered out some New Year's wishes. She hoped that he and Mrs. Matheson had enjoyed their visit. But without any reply to her politeness, he said abruptly-- "Were you arranging some business with Mr. Lathrop?" She supposed he was thinking of the militant Campaign. "Yes," she said, eagerly. "Yes, I was arranging some business." Winnington's eyes examined her. "Miss Delia, what do you know about that man?--except that story--which I understand Miss Marvell told you." "Nothing--nothing at all! Except--except that he speaks at our meetings, and generally gets us into hot water. He has a lot of interesting books--and drawings--in his cottage; and he has lent me Madame de Noailles' poems. Won't you sit down? I hope you and Mrs. Matheson have had a good time? We have been to church--at least I have--and given away lots of coals and plum-puddings--at least I have. Gertrude thought me a fool. We have had the choir up to sing carols in the servants' hall, and given them a sovereign--at least I did. And I don't want any more Christmas--for a long, long, time!" And with that, she dropped into a chair opposite Winnington, who sat now twirling his hat and studying the ground. "I agree with you," he said drily when she paused. "I felt when I was away that I had better be here. And I feel it now doubly." "Because?" "Because--if my absence has led to your developing any further acquaintance with the gentleman who has just left the room, when I might have prevented it, I regret it deeply." Delia's cheeks had gone crimson again. "You knew perfectly well Mr. Winnington, that we had made acquaintance with Mr. Lathrop! We never concealed it!" "I knew, of course, that you were both members of the League, and that you had spoken at meetings together. I regretted it--exceedingly--and I asked you--in vain--to put an end to it. But when I find him paying a morning call here--and lending you books--that is a very different matter!" Delia broke out-- "You really are _too_ Early-Victorian, Mr. Winnington!--and I can't help being rude. Do you suppose you can ever turn me into a bread-and-butter miss? I have looked after myself for years--you don't understand!" She faced him indignantly. Winnington laughed. "All right--so long as the Early Victorians may have their say. And my say about Mr. Lathrop is--again that he is not a fit companion for you, or any young girl,--that he is a man of blemished character--both in morals and business. Ask anybody in this neighbourhood!" He had spoken with firm emphasis, his eyes sparkling.