Jasper left the rock and strode hastily towards Morwell, troubled at heart at the news given him. Had he looked behind him as he entered the wood, he would have seen the boy making grimaces, capering, clapping his hands and knees, whistling, screaming snatches of operatic tunes, laughing, and shouting ‘Which is it to be, Rachel or Leah?’ CHAPTER XXVI. AN IMP OF DARKNESS. JASPER went immediately to Mr. Jordan. He found Eve with her father. Jane, the housemaid, had exhibited signs of restlessness and impatience to be off. Joseph Woodman, the policeman from Tavistock, a young and sleepy man who was paying her his addresses, had appeared at the kitchen window and coughed. He was off duty, and Jane thought it hard that she should be on when he was off. So Eve had let her depart with her lover. ‘Well,’ said Mr. Jordan, who was still in bed, ‘what is it? Do you want me?’ ‘I have come to ask your permission to leave for a few days. I must go to my father, who is dying. I will return as soon as I can.’ Eve’s great blue eyes opened with amazement. ‘You said nothing about this ten minutes ago.’ ‘I did not know it then.’ ‘What!’ exclaimed Mr. Jordan, trying to rise on his elbow, and his eyes brightening, ‘Ezekiel Babb dying! Is justice overtaking him at last?’ ‘I hear that he is dying,’ said Jasper; ‘it is my duty to go to him.’ ‘If he dies,’ said Mr. Jordan, ‘to whom will his property go?’ ‘Probably to me; but it is premature to inquire.’ ‘Not at all. My Eve has been robbed——’ ‘Sir!’ said Jasper gravely, ‘I undertook to repay that sum as soon as it should be in my power to do so, principal and interest. I have your permission, sir?’ He bowed and withdrew. At supper Barbara looked round, and noticed the absence of Jasper Babb, but she said nothing. ‘You need not look at that empty chair,’ said Eve; ‘Mr. Jasper will not be here. He is gone.’ ‘Gone where?’ ‘Called away suddenly. His father is dying.’ Barbara raised her eyebrows. She was greatly puzzled. She sat playing with her fork, and presently said, ‘This is very odd—who brought the news?’ ‘I saw no one. He came in almost directly after we left him on the Raven Rock.’ ‘But no one came up to the house.’ ‘Oh, yes—Joseph Woodman, Jane’s sweetheart, the policeman.’ ‘He cannot have brought the news.’ ‘I do not think Mr. Jasper saw him, but I cannot say.’ ‘I cannot understand it, Eve,’ mused Barbara. ‘What is more, I do not believe it.’