“It’s nigh broke his mother’s heart, sir; but he’s gone off to Australia with Reuben Morris all of a sudden, without a word of warning.” Vane felt a thrill of joy pass through her, and her spirits at once began to revive. “Australia? Why? But they can not have gone yet--they must be in London. It is one thing to say you will start on such a voyage, and another thing to do it. It takes two or three days, Bright, you know, to make the necessary arrangements.” The farmer looked at the young squire’s flushed, eager face with a little surprise and much gratitude. “Thank you, sir. It’s like you, Mr. Stuart, always to be kind; but it’s no use now, sir. Robert started last night; by this time they’re out of the Channel. It’s a hard thing to see one’s only son took from us, Mr. Stuart, and all along of a bit of a girl.” “A girl!” echoed Stuart, shivering, he scarcely knew why. “Ay, sir--that lass of Morris’, that nameless thing! She just bewitched him, has played the fool with him, said him ‘No,’ when he’d have made her his wife, and now has took him on again, for they’ve all gone out together.” “Margery!” exclaimed Stuart, in a dull, startled way. “She--they have gone together?” “Ay, sir--she’ve took him from us all with her fooling, and I make no doubt but they’ll be married afore they reach the other side. The mother would have welcomed her gladly to keep Robert at home; but she weren’t honest enough to do that--she must needs give herself airs like a fine lady, and drag my boy after her.” Vane saw Stuart’s jaw set, his face flush, the veins on his forehead swell. After a pause, he said, in a low tone: “And you are sure of this, Bright?” “I’m just back from London, sir. I’ve been down to the docks, and there’s no mistake; they all remembered the girl--her pretty face, they called it. Ah, it will be weary work for us, sir, waiting till Robert comes back! My wife’s most distraught.” “Good-by, Bright.” Stuart put out his hand, which the farmer grasped. “This is indeed bad news! I am sorry, very sorry for you.” “Thanks, Mr. Stuart.” Bright loosened Stuart’s hand, and, with a respectful salute to Vane, passed on, something like a tear twinkling in his eye. Vane looked straight ahead, pretending not to see the quick, hurried way in which Stuart bent his head for a moment. Victory was hers, she told herself--victory! Suddenly Stuart looked up. “Turn around, Vane, and drive home; it is all over now--so much the better!” The recklessness of his tone pleased her; it showed her that anger rankled as well as pain, that mortification filled his breast with despair. If this mood lasted, her work would not be difficult. CHAPTER XIV. “Margery! Margery!”