He felt a little moved for her. It is pathetic to see a resolute creature reduced to irresolution. The manhood in him inclined Lawrence to take her part against the man. It seemed an awful thing that her life should be ruined, as it must be if she married one she did not love. He liked Dinah better than Johnny, for the latter's arrogance and rather smug and superior attitude to life at large did not attract Maynard. "It's never right under any circumstances for a woman to marry a man she does not love," he said. "You think so?" "I do--I'm positive." "Even if she's promised?" "Your eyes are opened. You promised because you thought you loved him. Now you know right well you don't. A proper man ought to bend to that, however much it hurts. And if you still think it's your duty to marry him, I say duty's not enough to marry on." "It's hurting me fearfully, and there's something awful wrong about it. They want me away from here--Mrs. Bamsey and Jane--that's natural too. Though why I'm confiding in you I don't know. Something have drove me to do it. But I know you'll be faithful." "I wish I could help you, miss. I can only say what I think." "You have helped me I reckon. You've helped me a lot. I was half in a mind to go and see Enoch Withycombe; but he's old, and the young turn to the young, don't they?" "I suppose they do; though I dare say the old know best, along of experience." "The old forget a lot. They always begin by telling you they remember what it was to be young themselves; but they don't. They can't. Their blood runs slower; they're colder. They've changed through and through since they were young. They can't remember some things." "I dare say they can't." "Will you come for a walk with me one day and show me that stone you was telling about--the face?" "You remember that?" "Yes; you was going to say more about it the last Sunday you was here; then you shut up rather sudden." The idea of a walk with Dinah had certainly never entered Maynard's head. He remained silent. "D'you think it would be wrong, or d'you only think it would be a nuisance?" she asked. "It's a new notion to me. I'd like to pleasure you and it wouldn't be a nuisance--far from it I'm sure; but as to whether it would be wrong--it would and it wouldn't I fancy. It couldn't be wrong in itself; but seeing you're tokened to another man, you're not free to take walks with Dick, Tom, or Harry. No doubt you see that." "John wouldn't like it?" "Certainly he wouldn't. You know that." "Would you mind my walking with another man if you was engaged to me?" "Yes, I should, very much indeed; especially if I was in the same fix that John Bamsey is." "Poor John. There's such a thing as liking a man too well to love him, Mr. Maynard." "Is there?" "I'm beginning to feel--there--I've wasted enough of your time. You won't go for a walk with me?" "I'd like to go for a walk with you."