"For which the Lord be praised--though it is but a small mercy. Did not I say it was in _thought_, my lad--but have it out, Tommy--such thoughts are best let out, like ill birds. Keeping them pent, they breed. Loose, they may fly away. How long has this been going on?" Suddenly the speaker's tone changed, becoming peremptory and commonplace. Tommy murmured inaudibly. "Speak out," thundered Dr. Craig, losing patience, "speak out, sir, and be damned to you. How long?" "We met first on the last day of March." "How? When? Where?" "Accidentally. In the village. In the post-office. Till that day I had never----" "No matter about that. What happened at this precious meeting? Answer me truly, Tommy, for----" he paused, and once more the angry tone softened. "You have neither father nor mother, and I've got to see you through this brash. The truth I _must have_, so out with it." "She spoke to me," owned Tommy, reluctantly. "She knew who I was, and asked if I would take a message to Mrs. Craig?" "Well?" "Afterwards she was not sure that she had got the message correctly--it was from Miss Boldero, I believe,--and--and----" "And you had to walk back with her to the Abbey and get it?" Now this was precisely what had happened, but the dry tone with its covert mockery, stung. "Certainly I had. I don't know why you should speak to me so, Dr. Craig? I did what every man in my case would have done. And Mrs. Stubbs----" "That's better. 'Mrs. Stubbs.' Never let me hear 'Leonore' again." "Dash it, I can manage my own affairs, sir. I--I don't need either your advice or interference. You take advantage of your position, and of--of a moment's weakness on my part. Please to let me alone in future." White, infuriated, and shaking like a reed, the wretched lad struggled desperately for manhood, and his companion was secretly relieved by the outburst. Here was something to lay hold of at last; some good, honest, fighting blood roused; real anger melted as he assumed its mask. "Very well--very well. Neither advice nor interference shall you have, if it comes to that, young sir; but there is such a thing as authority. You are in my house, and in my employment, and I'll be hanged if I stand by and see you ruined. Unless you give me your word that you will hold no more communication with this woman, I shall go straight to Boldero Abbey, and speak to her--mark you--to _her_, myself." "You?--To her?--You?" "And if she will not hearken to me, I shall address myself to her father." "To her father?"--in a soundless whisper.