"Where's the wrong, or harm, of my going there?" demanded Robert, condescending to argue the question. "I like the girl excessively; I like talking to her. She has been as well reared as I have." "Nonsense," returned William. "You can't separate her from her family; from what she is. I say you ought to drop it." "What on earth has made you so squeamish all on a sudden? The society of that fine London lady, Miss Charlotte Travice?" They were passing in a ray of light at the moment, thrown across the yard from one of the carriage lamps. Philip had left the carriage and the lamps outside, and was in the stable with the horse. Robert Carr saw his companion's face light up at the allusion, but William replied, without any symptom of anger-- "I will tell you what, people are beginning to talk of it from one end of the town to the other. I don't think you have any right to bring the scandal upon her. You bring it _needlessly_, as you yourself admit. A girl's good name, once lost, is not easy to regain, although it may be lost unjustly." "I told you months ago, that there was nothing in it." "I believe you; I believe you still. But now that the town has taken the matter up, and is passing its opinion upon it, I say that for the young girl's sake you should put a stop to it, and let the acquaintance cease." "The town may be smothered for all I care--and serve it right!" was Robert Carr's reply. "But look here, Arkell, I didn't come to raise up this discussion, I have no time for it; and you may just take one fact into your note-book--that all you can say, though you talked till doomsday, would not alter my line of conduct by a hair's breadth. I came to ask you a favour." "What is it?" "Will you lend me the carriage for an hour or so to-morrow morning? It's to go to Purford." "To Purford! Why that's where I have just been. I dare say you may have it. I will ask my father." "But that is just what I don't want you to ask. I have to go there on a little private business of my own, and I don't wish it known that I have gone." William hesitated. Only son, and indulged son though he was, he had never gone the length of lending out his father's carriage without permission; and he very much disliked the idea of doing so now. Robert Carr did not give him much time for consideration. "You will be rendering me a service which I shan't forget, Arkell. If Philip will drive me over----" "Philip! Do you want Philip with you?" "Philip must go to bring back the carriage; I shan't return until the afternoon. Why, he will be there and home again almost before Mr. Arkell's up. I must go pretty early."