"Fairing--or so he said; but if truth's known I expect he's to work. He often gives out he's away when he isn't. He's catched a chap once or twice like that." "Ah! He knows his business. I expect he's down on the water somewhere. I should have guessed, now, you would have been up to his plans and going to take him his dinner by the river presently." Dinah was rather aghast at this pleasantry. It argued an intimate knowledge of lovers' ways on the part of the other. "You might think so," she said. "And often I have for that matter. But we're out--my fault, too." "Never!" "Yes--and that's why I say I'm under the weather." "Well, Miss Susan wants Mrs. Bamsey to lend her the cheese press. We're going to have a try at cheese-making. Mr. Stockman's got an idea the thing be well worth trying; and Miss Susan wants to come over and have a tell about it and learn Mrs. Bamsey's wisdom. And the clutch of chickens be ready for you." "Didn't you hear me say I was under the weather?" "Twice. Yes. Sorry. It'll come right. Lovers' quarrels be naught." "What have you heard Cousin Joe say about me and Johnny?" "D'you want to know?" "I do then." "He says you're not treating John fair, and that it's a very black mark against you not fixing up the wedding." "So it is, and nobody knows it better than me." "You've got your reasons, no doubt." "God knows if I have." He said nothing, and she asked a curious question. "Be you faithful, Mr. Maynard?" "I hope so." "I can talk to you. Funnily enough I've wanted to talk to you for a month, but held off. And now's the chance. I can trust you?" He was a little uneasy. "Don't you tell me anything you'll be sorry for." "I'll tell you this. Johnny's sworn he won't see me no more till I name the day. And his people are on his side--very properly. And why don't I name the day? Can you answer that?" "No, I can't--nor anybody else but your own self I should think." "What's love like?" "You did ought to know." "So I did; and that's the trouble. I did ought to know; but I don't. Only I know this bitter clear: I'm not in love with Johnny. And it's hurting me and it's wrong." He was sorry for her, but not astonished to learn the truth. Indeed he had already guessed it. Others also suspected it. Susan had spoken plainly on the subject one night to her father. "'Tis whispered you took him for Mr. Bamsey's sake." "No, I can't be let off like that. I wouldn't have done that, though it helped me to decide, of course. But I took him, because I thought I did love him, and now, after keeping company just on a year, I know I do not. Now you're a man that understands things." "Don't you fancy that. None on God's earth is more puzzled about things than me. I've had a puzzling life I may tell you." "I haven't. Till now my life's been as clear as sunshine. But now--now I'm up against a pretty awful thing, and it's cruel hard to make up my mind. Was you ever really in love?"