“It won’t do, Kate. When the circus girl goes round driving two horses, she skips off one back and on to another. You can’t skip off one saddle wi’out another saddle to skip into, that ain’t reason.” “I am not a circus girl.” “We all are going round and round in one ring, and then comes a fool and holds up the hoop for us to go through. Jack has been my clown, and Noah shall be yours.” “I do not wish it,” said Kate hastily. “I desire only to be let alone.” “My dear, I know what is best for you. I’ll call Noah.” Kate sprang up. “I have to wash up after supper with Mrs. Redmore,” she said, and hastened into the kitchen. Rose was vexed. She returned to the others, and gave Noah a sign to follow the girl; and he obeyed with his usual docility. Then Rose began to propound her scheme to the uncle and aunt, to explain Noah’s prospects and dilate on his attachment for Kate. The aunt alone raised objections, which Rose combated in the most airy manner. Zerah doubted whether Kate felt any regard for Noah; Rose was positive that this would come as a matter of course, now that she was free from entanglement with Bramber. Pepperill said he would be glad, after what had happened, to have Kate married and out of his house. Whereupon Zerah caught him up and asked his meaning. Before he could answer, Kitty came in trembling, and, standing before Rose, asked, “What does he mean? Noah says he has seen my father.” Rose tossed her head, and cast an angry glance over Kate’s shoulder at the stupid young man who was following. “Noah is a blundering fellow,” she said, “and does not know what he says. Your father! Do you think that if we had seen him we would not at once have made him come on here with us?” “You told me”’began Noah apologetically. “Whatever I may have said, you are too dull to understand, and you turn everything cat-in-the-pan.” Apparently satisfied, Kate prepared to go back into the kitchen, and Noah would have followed her; but she stood in the doorway and said firmly, “No, I do not wish to have you in the kitchen. If you persist in following, I shall pin a dish-clout to your back. Jane Redmore wants to get home to her little ones, the night is dark as pitch. I must help her to clean up, and we can have no one to interfere with us; you nearly made me break a dish with what you said just now.” “Come here,” said Rose. “You are a duffer, and don’t know how to manage”; and Noah obeyed, and seated himself in the settle. Kate shut the kitchen door. “What was that you said about my brother Jason?” asked Zerah. “It was nonsense,” answered Rose sharply. “But Noah meant something, when he said he had seen him.” “Noah is a fool: are you not, Noah?” “I suppose you know,” answered the young man meekly. “Tell me what it was that made Kate nigh on drop the dish,” persisted Zerah, always a resolute woman to have her way. “It was nought but a parcel of nonsense,” said Rose evasively. “There must have been something,” persisted Zerah.