She looked at him keenly as she offered him her hand. "I wouldn't be downhearted if I were you," she said. "Very odd things sometimes happen." "Oh, I sha'n't be very down-hearted," said he, "so long as I hear that she is all right, and not vexing herself about anything." "Good-bye, Mr. Trelyon. I am sorry I can't take any message for you." "To her? No, that is impossible. Good-bye, Mabyn: I think you are the best friend I have in the world." "We'll see about that," she said as she walked rapidly off. Her mother had been sufficiently astonished by her long absence: she was now equally surprised by the excitement and pleasure visible in her face. "Oh, mammy, do you know whom I've seen? Mr. Trelyon." "Mabyn!" "Yes. We've walked right round Penzance all by ourselves. And it's all settled, mother." "What is all settled?" "The understanding between him and me. An offensive and defensive alliance. Let tyrants beware!" She took off her bonnet and came and sat down on the floor by the side of the sofa: "Oh, mammy, I see such beautiful things in the future! You wouldn't believe it if I told you all I see. Everybody else seems determined to forecast such gloomy events. There's Wenna crying and writing letters of contrition, and expecting all sorts of anger and scolding; there's Mr. Trelyon haunted by the notion that Mr. Roscorla will suddenly come home and marry Wenna right off; and as for him out there in Jamaica, I expect he'll be in a nice state when he hears of all this. But far on ahead of all that I see such a beautiful picture!" "It is a dream of yours, Mabyn," her mother said, but there was an imaginative light in her fine eyes too. "No, it is not a dream, mother, for there are so many people all wishing now that it should come about, in spite of these gloomy fancies. What is there to prevent it when we are all agreed?--Mr. Trelyon and I heading the list with our important alliance; and you, mother, would be so proud to see Wenna happy; and Mrs. Trelyon pets her as if she were a daughter already; and everybody--every man, woman and child--in Eglosilyan would rather see that come about than get a guinea apiece. Oh, mother, if you could see the picture that I see just now!" "It is a pretty picture, Mabyn," her mother said, shaking her head. "But when you think of everybody being agreed, you forget one, and that is Wenna herself. Whatever she thinks fit and right to do, that she is certain to do, and all your alliances and friendly wishes won't alter her decision, even if it should break her heart. And indeed I hope the poor child won't sink under the terrible strain that is on her: what do you think of her looks, Mabyn?" "They want mending--yes, they want mending," Mabyn admitted, apparently with some compunction, but then she added boldly, "and you know as well as I do, mother, that there is but the one way of mending them." CHAPTER XXX. FERN IN DIE WELT.