A trap from Ashburton descended, flashing its lights through the leafy darkness of the road; and when the ray illuminated Mr. Stockman, he heard a woman's voice bid the driver pull up. It was Mrs. Honeysett who spoke, and she seized an opportunity to relieve the existing painful conditions. For she had not seen Joe since she declined him; but here was an excuse and she took it. "You'll be wondering what I'm doing at this time of night," she said, "but I can't pass you." Then she alighted and a man alighted with her. "Just been to Ashburton to meet my brother, Robert," she explained. "You remember him. He's home for a bit at last." A huge figure towered in the gloom over Joe and a heavy hand grasped his own. "I remember you," said the farmer, "but I forgot you were such a whacker. Sailed all the Seven Seas, I suppose, since you was last to Buckland?" "He's two inches taller than what dear father was," declared Melinda, relieved to find Mr. Stockman in a humour apparently amiable. "Robert's going to take a nice rest along with me. In fact he doubts sometimes if he'll go back to sea at all." "No, no--I don't doubt that," answered the sailor. "But I be going to give work a rest." "And find a wife, if he can," continued Melinda. "Us must help him, Joe." "I always swore as I'd marry a maiden from the Vale," said Robert Withycombe. "The puzzle will be to find one, I tell him," laughed Melinda "I know a likely girl all the same, and so does Mr. Stockman, Bob." Joe guessed to whom she referred, and it showed him that Melinda knew nothing of the threatened tragedy. "I reckon you mean Orphan Dinah," he said. "Well and why not? A very sensible young woman. The man that gets her will be lucky." "They'd be a proper pair and I hope Bob will think well of her. But he must be warned that she's already changed her mind in one quarter." "That's not against her," replied Joe. "That shows strength of character and she had every right to do so. I only hope I know another woman who'll be wise enough to change her mind." Before this veiled attack, Melinda was silent and Robert spoke. "My girl, when she comes along, won't have no time to change her mind. She've got to marry me and be quick about it. Then us must find a little house to Southampton, or else Plymouth." Stockman, with certain ideas moving in his head, issued an invitation. "Perhaps you'll be in luck--who knows? I'd pleasure you for your sister's sake, because she and me are very good friends, and I hope always will be. You come to supper o' Wednesday, Robert, and bring Jerry along with you. I don't ax you, Melinda--not this time. I want to have a tell with your brothers; mind you make 'em come."