So it came about that, in some way or other, he knew, broadly, all that Miss Fountain did, little as he saw of her. It appeared that she had discovered a pony carriage for hire in the little village near the bridge, and once or twice during this fortnight, he learned from Augustina that she had spent the afternoon at Browhead Farm, while the Bannisdale household had been absorbed in some function of the season. Augustina disliked the news as much as he did, and would throw up her hands in annoyance. "What _can_ she be doing there? They seem the roughest kind of people. But she says the son plays so wonderfully. I believe she plays duets with him. She goes out with the cart full of music." "Music!" said Helbeck, in frank amazement. "That lout!" "Well, she says so," said Augustina crossly, as though it were a personal affront. "And what do you think, Alan? She talks of going to a dance up there after Easter--next Thursday, I think." "At the farm?" Helbeck's tone was incredulous. "No; at the mill--or somewhere. She says the schoolmaster is giving it, or something of that sort. Of course it's most unsuitable. But what am I to do, Alan? They _are_ her relations!" "At the same time they are not her class," said Helbeck decidedly. "She has been brought up in a different way, and she cannot behave as though she belonged to them. And a dance, with that young man to look after her! You ought to stop it." Augustina said dismally that she would try, but her head shook with more feebleness than usual as she went back to her knitting. * * * * * Next day Helbeck made a point of finding his sister alone. But she only threw him a deprecatory look. "I tried, Alan--indeed I did. She says that she wants some amusement--that it will do her good--and that of course her father would have let her go to a dance with his relations. And when I say anything to her about not being quite like them, she fires up. She says she would be ashamed to be thought any better than they, and that Hubert has a great deal more good in him than some people think." "Hubert!" exclaimed Mr. Helbeck, raising his shoulders in disgust. After a little silence he turned round as he was leaving the room, and said abruptly: "Is she to stay the night at the farm?" "No! oh, no! She wants to come home. She says she won't be late; she promises not to be late." "And that young fellow will drive her home, of course?" "Well, she couldn't drive home alone, Alan, at that time of night. It wouldn't be proper."