The mention of this name made Mrs Portlock pause and rub her face thoughtfully with one corner of her apron. "I don't see why not," she muttered. "I'm sure he likes her, or else he wouldn't be so fond of coming out here to smoke a pipe with Joseph. And if they are gentry, why, gentry are only human flesh; and as to their money, I'll be bound to say they're not so much better off than we are, in spite of their show." There was another fierce attack upon the golden fluid in the white basin. "He seems nice, does Cyril; very different to his brother. Poor Rue, she had an escape there; and I dare say this will only be a bit of a flirtation with both of them. I shall not interfere, and matters may go as they like." The eggs once more suffered from the severe attack. "It's my belief Sage don't know her own mind," exclaimed Mrs Portlock. "Here, Anne, bring some more coals to this fire; I want the oven to be well hot." Just then there was the sound of the closing door, and Luke Ross entered, followed by Sage, looking more conscious than before. "Morning, Mrs Portlock," cried the young man frankly. "Good-morning, Luke," she replied. "Why didn't you take him in the parlour, Sage? There's a good fire there." "Because I begged to be allowed to come here, Mrs Portlock, so as not interfere with the preparations. My father said he would be glad to come." "Ah, that's right!" exclaimed Mrs Portlock. "There, sit down by the fire; you must want a bit o' lunch. Sage!--why, bless the girl, I didn't see her go." "She has gone up-stairs, I think," said Luke. "To put her hair straight or some nonsense, when we are that busy that we shall never be ready in time." "No, no, Mrs Portlock," said Luke, who looked hot and nervous, and instead of taking a chair by the fire, he edged away to stand by the crockery-covered dresser, with his back half turned from the light; "I think she has gone up-stairs on account of what I wanted to say." "There, there, there," said Mrs Portlock, labouring frantically now at the egg-beating, "I think I know what's coming, and I'd a deal rather you wouldn't say a word to me about it." Luke Ross looked discomfited and troubled, and became exceedingly interested for a moment in the little silk band of his soft felt hat. "But surely, Mrs Portlock," he began at last, "you must have known that I was deeply attached to Sage?" "Well, yes, I suppose I did," replied Mrs Portlock; and this time some of the yellow egg flew over the basin side; "but it's a very serious matter." "Indeed, yes," said Luke, quietly, "I look upon it as the turning-point of my life." "And I don't believe that Sage half knows her own mind yet. She's too young, and it's not as if she was my own child." "But we can wait, Mrs Portlock," said Luke, gaining confidence, now that he had made the first plunge. "Of course we should have to wait for some time."