“Ah’m in a terrible way abaht that woman,” said Joan in a deep whisper. “Ah haven’t towd her Miss Claire’s coom back, and Ah hope nobody else will. For Ah don’t think she’s altogether in her roight moind, and Ah wouldn’t have her in t’ house again for summat!” This was grave news. Bram, feeling that there was nothing he could do for the protection of the threatened household, stared out before him with trouble in his eyes. “What did Mr. Biron say when he saw his daughter?” asked he. Joan pursed up her lips. “He didn’t dare say mooch,” said she, with a comprehensive nod. “He didn’t even say how he’d coom by t’ burns! It was me towd Miss Claire abaht Meg! And she heard me quite solemn, and didn’t ask many questions. And when Ah towd her abaht Mr. Christian’s having t’ fever she joost shivered, and said naught.” Bram shivered too, and hurried away up the hill to his lodging. CHAPTER XX. BY THE FURNACE FIRES. Then there began a strange time of dreary waiting for some crisis which Bram felt was approaching, although he could hardly foreshadow what the nature of it would be. Things could not go on much longer at Duke’s Farm in the way they had been doing for some time now. With nobody to look after him, the farm bailiff grew daily more neglectful of all business but his own. It went to Bram’s heart to see ruin creeping gradually nearer, while he dared not put out a helping hand to arrest its approach. He did try. He wrote a note to Claire, studiously formal, saying that while her father’s illness continued he should be glad to keep an eye on the management of the farm, as he had done some months ago. But the answer he got was a note still more formal than his own, in which Claire thanked him, but said she thought it better now that affairs had reached their present stage to let them go on as they were. After this to move a step in the direction of helping her would have been unwarrantable interference, which Bram would have undertaken once, when they were friends, but which he could not venture upon now. Still he tried to perform the office of guardian angel, hampered as he was.