"No, you're not a judge at all. You think you're in love with me...." "I'm hanged if I do--I _know_." "Because you're sorry for me----" "On the contrary, I'm sorry for myself. I think you're a hard-hearted ... obstinate ... little...." Mr. Withells would have been scandalised at the conduct of Miles. He would undoubtedly have described it as both "insanitary and improper." "Oh, please listen!" Meg gasped. "Perhaps a long time hence ... if you're still of the same mind...." "Anyway, may I tell people?" "Not a soul. I won't have my Jan worried just now. I've undertaken those children ... and she's having a bad time with that brother-in-law----" "I say, Meg, what is it about that chap Tancred? I can't stick him.... Is he a bad egg, or what?" "He is...." "Poor Miss Ross! But why does she have him there?" "Oh, it's a long story--and here we are at the junction, and I'm not going on first to Amber Guiting--so there!" * * * * * Jan in the pony-cart was waiting outside when Meg came from the little station. Captain Middleton followed in her train, laden with parcels like a Father Christmas. He packed her and the parcels in, covered both the ladies with the dust-holland, announced that he had bought a charger, and waited to get into the Manor motor till they had driven out of the station. They neither of them spoke till they had turned into the road. Then Jan quoted softly: "When I go to see my poor little papa, I shall go by train _by myself_." CHAPTER XXV A DEMONSTRATION IN FORCE Hugo was dissatisfied. So far, beyond a miserable ten pounds to buy some clothes, he had got no money out of Jan; and he was getting bored. To be sure, he still had most of the ten pounds, for he had gone and ordered everything in the market-town, where the name of Ross was considered safe as the Bank of England. So he hadn't paid for anything. Then there was that fellow Ledgard--what did he want hanging about, pretending to fish? He was after Jan and her money, that was his game. But however clear Peter Ledgard's nefarious intentions might be, Hugo confessed his sister-in-law puzzled him. She wasn't nearly as much afraid of him as he had expected. She was always gentle and courteous, but under the soft exterior he had occasionally felt a rock of determination, that was disconcerting. He had ceased to harp upon the string of his desolation. Somehow Jan contrived to show him that she didn't believe in it, and yet she never said one word to which he could take exception.