"Tell me this," he said suddenly. "By and large would you reckon that if a man sees a wrong thing being done--or what seems a wrong thing in his eyes--did he ought to seek to right it? It ain't his business in a manner of speaking; and yet, again, wrong be everybody's business; and yet, again, others might say it weren't a wrong at all and the man's judgment in fault to say it was wrong." Arthur cast down his plane and pondered this somewhat vague proposition. But his quick mind, even while considering the case, found a subconscious way of also speculating as to what lay behind it. He knew everybody's affairs and was familiar with a rumour that Maynard secretly paid court to Dinah Waycott. For some reason he suspected that this might be in the mind of Maynard's fellow-worker. "You put the question very well, Tom, and yet make it a bit difficult to answer," he said. "For it ain't a straight question, but hemmed about with doubt. If you was to say you saw wrong being done and asked me if you ought to try and right it, than I should answer you that it was your bounden duty to try to right it and not let anything come between. But you ban't sure in your mind if it is wrong being done, so that's the point you've got to fasten on and clear up; and until I know more of the facts of the case, I couldn't say more than that you must be sure afore you set about it." Thomas Palk considered this speech and did not immediately reply, while Arthur spoke again. "Have you heard anybody else on the subject, or be it a thing only come to your own notice? Mind I don't want to know a word about it--only to help you, or, if it ain't you yourself, whoever it may be." "It is me," answered the other. "And I see what I take to be a wrong thing going on. I don't feel no doubt myself; but I can't say as anybody else but me seems to see it. And if I was to up and say I thought so, which I ban't at all feared to do, I might open his eyes, or I might not." "Would you be harming anybody if it was took in a wrong spirit?" "It didn't ought to." "There's no anger to it, nor nothing like that, Thomas?" "Not a bit. I'm very friendly disposed to all concerned." "Mind--don't you answer if you don't want; but is there a woman in it, Thomas?" Mr. Palk considered. "If there was?" "Then be terrible careful." "There is--and that's all I be going to tell you," answered Mr. Palk, growing a little uneasy. The carpenter doubted not that here lay direct allusion to Dinah and Lawrence; but he had no motive, beyond inherent curiosity, for going farther into that matter then. Indeed, he saw the gathering concern of Mr. Palk and sought only to put him at his ease.