The expected horse was emerging from between the houses in a series of capers and pig-jumps that promised the man on its back an interesting ride. Saunders had examined it in the fair, but, as the small boy in charge had orders not to mount himself, the owner, a very old man, had been obliged to look round for some one with pretensions to horsemanship before the young, excitable animal could be trotted out for Charles to see. Though everybody was not minded for the responsibility, the difficulty had been overcome at last. While Saunders watched the approaching rider, Susannah broke into an exclamation, and, running towards a gap in the hedge, concealed herself behind the trunk of a tree, which grew upon the bank. "Afraid of horses, are ye?" called Saunders jeeringly, after her. Susannah feared very few things; but she had sharp sight, and the man on the horse was Heber. As the fact dawned on Charles his expression changed. He stood at the road-side, thrusting his hands into his pockets and feeling as though he would choke. Heber had been too much occupied, hand and eye, to observe Susannah, but, as he drew near, the other man thought he could see a look of triumph on his face. The shepherd had induced the horse to be quiet and the creature trotted collectedly, a fine, strong, short-legged bay with a blaze and two white stockings. But Saunders had no eye for its paces, for the wrath he felt at the sight of Heber overcame him, business instincts and all. For any heed that Heber took of him he might have been a signpost or a milestone. Moorhouse turned back about fifty yards farther on and came by again at a canter. This time Saunders imagined that he was smiling. "Take him away! I don't want to see him again!" he roared after the retreating man. Heber turned in his saddle and looked back. Charles was sure of the smile now. "Go on! take him away, I tell you!" he yelled, waving his arm. He could almost have pelted him from the nearest stone-heap. Heber rode quietly on into the town. The moment that he was out of sight, Susannah came from behind the tree, her eyes shining. "Come with me--now--this minute!" she cried. "There's no time to lose! Another half hour and it'll be too late. He's sure to come to the house as soon as his business is done. I'd no notion he was to be at the fair." "You might have guessed it," said Saunders roughly. "He told me, no more nor the night he came with Catherine, that none o' them were to be down from the farm." They set out together without another word. The sight of the shepherd had done more to make up Charles's mind than all Susannah's arguments and persuasions. She had escaped so narrowly from being seen by Heber in Charles's company that she now piloted her companion to the cottage through the same quiet ways she had traversed in the morning with her uncle.