"I saw a man on 'orseback ride up to Briar Farm, 'oldin' a baby in front o' him with one hand, and the reins in t'other--an' he came out from the farm without the baby. Then one mornin' when Farmer Jocelyn was a-walkin' with the baby in the fields I said to 'im, secret-like--'That ain't your child!' an' he sez--'Ow do you know it ain't?' An' I sez--' Because I saw it come with a stranger'--an' he laughed an' said--'It may be mine for all that!' But I knew it worn't! A nice little girl she is too,--Miss Innocent--poor soul! I'm downright sorry for 'er, for she ain't got many friends in this village." "Why?" Robin asked, half mechanically. "Why? Well, she's a bit too dainty--like in 'er ways for one thing--then there's gels who are arter YOU, Mister Clifford!--ay, ay, ye know they are!--sharp 'ussies, all of 'em!--an' they can't abide 'ER, for they thinks you're a-goin' to marry 'er!--Lord forgive me that I should be chitterin' 'ere about marryin' over a buryin'!--but that's the trouble--an' it's the trouble all the world over, wimmin wantin' a man, an' mad for their lives when they thinks another woman's arter 'im! Eh, eh! We should all get along better if there worn't no wimmin jealousies, but bein' men we've got to put up with 'em. Are ye goin' now, Mister?--Well, the Lord love ye an' comfort ye!--ye'll never meet a finer man this side the next world than the one I'm puttin' a cold quilt on!" Silently Clifford turned away, heavy-hearted and lost in perplexed thought. What was best to be done for Innocent? This was the chief question that presented itself to his mind. He could no longer deny the fact that her position was difficult--almost untenable. Nameless, and seemingly deserted by her kindred, if any such kindred still existed, she was absolutely alone in life, now that Hugo Jocelyn was no more. As he realised this to its fullest intensity, the deeper and more passionate grew his love for her. "If she would only marry me!" he said under his breath, as he walked home slowly from the church-yard--"It was Uncle Hugo's last wish!"