"I!" returned Jack, with his frank smile. "No, I don't think he could say that. Whatever other faults I may have, I am straightforward and open: too much so, perhaps, on occasion." When the ladies left the table, the Squire despatched me with a message to old Thomas about the claret. In the hall, after delivering it, I came upon Verena Fontaine. "I am going to run home for my music," she said to me, as she put her white shawl on her shoulders. "I forgot to bring it." "Let me go for you," I said, taking down my hat. "No, thank you; I must go myself." "With you, then." "I wish to go alone," she returned, in a playful tone, but one that had a decisive ring in it. "Stay where you are, if you please, Mr. Johnny Ludlow." She meant it; I saw that; and I put my hat down and went into the drawing-room. Presently somebody missed her; I said she had gone home to fetch her music. Upon which they all attacked me for letting her go--for not offering to fetch it for her. Tod and Bob Letsom, who had just come into the room, told me I was not more gallant than a rising bear. I laughed, and did not say what had passed. Mary Ann Letsom plunged into one of her interminable sonatas, and the time slipped on. "Johnny," whispered the mater to me, "you must go after Verena Fontaine to see what has become of her. You ought not to have allowed her to go out alone." Truth to say, I was myself beginning to wonder whether she meant to come back at all. Catching up my hat again, I ran off to Maythorn Bank. Oh! Pacing slowly the shadiest part of the garden there, was Miss Verena, the white shawl muffled round her. Mr. Pym was pacing with her, his face bent down to a level with hers, his arm passed gingerly round her waist. "I thought they might be sending after me," she cried out, quitting Pym as I went in at the gate. "I will go back with you, Mr. Johnny. Edward, I can't stay another moment," she called back to him; "you see how it is. Yes, I'll be walking in the Ravine to-morrow." Away she went, with so fleet a step that I had much ado to keep up with her. _That_ was my first enlightenment of the secret treason which was destined to bring forth so terrible an ending. "You won't tell tales of me, Johnny Ludlow?" she stopped to say, in a beseeching tone, as we reached the gate of Crabb Cot. "See, I have my music now." "All right, Miss Verena. You may trust me." "I am sure of that. I read it in your face." Which might be all very well; but I thought it would be more to the purpose could she have read it in Pym's. Pym's was a handsome face, but not one to be trusted. She glided into the room behind Thomas and his big tea-tray, seized upon a cup at once, and stood with it as coolly as though she had never been away. Sir Dace, talking near the window with old Paul, looked across at her, but said nothing. I wondered how long they had been in the drawing-room, and whether he had noticed her absence.