And then she laid her pencil down--and sat with the book on her knee--looking towards the gold and grey of the sky--the tears running quietly down her cheeks. * * * * * Meanwhile, Hastings had come hurriedly into the shippen, where Janet and the two girls were milking. He came to stand beside her, silent, but fidgeting so, that she presently looked up in astonishment. "Did you want me?" "I wanted to tell you something," he said in a low voice, stooping over her--"Don't let the girls hear. But that man's been seen again. The tramp." Janet started. She jumped up, asked Betty, who had finished, to take her place, and went with Hastings out of the barn. "There are two or three people think they've seen him lately," he said hurriedly. "A man from Dobson's farm"--(the farm which lay between Great End and the village)--"who was on the hill yesterday evening, just before dark, was certain he saw somebody hanging about the back of the farm in a queer way--" "Last night?" echoed Janet. "Yes. And there are two people who remember meeting a man on the X--road who said he was going to Walton End. And the police have been inquiring, but nobody at Walton End knows anything about such a man. However, they have a description of him at last. A tall, dark fellow--gentlemanly manners--seems delicate. I don't like the look of it, Miss Janet. Seems to me as though it weren't just a tramp, hanging about for what he can steal. Do you know of anybody who has a down on Miss Henderson--who'd like to frighten her, or put blackmail on her?" Janet considered. She was tempted to take the faithful fellow to some extent into her confidence, but she rapidly decided against it. She suggested that he should himself sleep for a few nights at the farm, and carefully examine the neighbourhood of it, last thing; and that she should bicycle over to Millsborough at once, and have some further talk with the Superintendent of Police there. "Besides--I'd like to be out of the way," she thought. "They won't want anybody hanging round!" For there was steadily growing up in her a blissful confidence that all would be once more settled and settled for good, before the night fell. Spectators were entirely out of place! Nor would she disturb Rachel's mind by any talk just then of what seemed to be a fresh attempt at terrorism on the part of her wretched husband. Hastings would be in charge for the moment, and Ellesborough would be on the spot for consultation before darkness had really set in. So as before, she told Hastings not to alarm Miss Henderson. But he was not to leave the farm-buildings, and possibly the Superintendent of Police would return with her. "And then--either Rachel or the Captain will have to tell the police the truth!" Just as she was starting, Rachel came downstairs in some surprise. "Where are you off to?" "I have forgotten something I wanted from Millsborough. I shall be back in an hour or so."