"I've left it off now with these new clothes." She nodded. "I'm going to see Cousin Joe and Susan. She's always been terrible kind to me. So has he for that matter. How have they took this? If they're very much against me, perhaps I'd best not go." "It's interested 'em a lot. They've heard John's side mostly, because he comes up over now and again. But they keep fairly open minds about it." "They don't know why I done it?" "Yes. I ventured to say a word or two. No business of mine; but I just went so far as to explain that I'd seen you last bank holiday, and you told me what you thought to do, and why." "Thank you I'm sure." "No call for that. Common fairness. Mr. Stockman's very good to me and lets me talk if I've a mind to. He's a far-sighted, fair man, or so I find him." "They won't jump down my throat, then?" "Not likely. I'm going in to have a tell with Mr. Withycombe now. He's poorly, and a neighbour cheers him up and makes him forget his pains." "What did he think about it, Mr. Maynard?" "He thought you was right, I believe." "I'm very glad of that. And what did you think?" "You know what I thought, miss. I thought you was dead right." She kept silent for a moment. Then she spoke. "I wish to God Johnny would see it." "He will--some day. He don't yet. He----" Maynard stopped. She put her hand on his arm eagerly. "Is there anything I could do or say to help him, should you think? If there was, I'd do it if it killed me." "Nothing much to help him I should reckon." "What was you going to say when you stopped?" "Nothing worth saying--at least, something better not spoken for the minute." She considered this. "Please tell me if it can help him," she begged. Now it was his turn to weigh his thoughts and the thing he had on his lips. He decided that he ought to tell her. "It's this, then. They think at Falcon Farm that, if Johnny is patient, things may yet come right." Dinah was cast down. "Oh, I'm sorry they talk like that. Why do they?" "Because they've seen him and not you, perhaps." "I don't reckon I'll go now," said Dinah, but continued, before he could advise: "Yes, I will. I must. If there's any feeling like that about, it's only right they should know. I'm not the sort to play with a chap, and it's cruel to let Johnny think I am. But does he?" "I dare say not." They talked for another ten minutes. Then she prepared to go up the hill. "You've done me good," she said, "and I'm very glad I met you. And I'd like to meet you again, please. D'you mind that walk I wanted to go? Will you take it now?" He hesitated. "Not if you don't want." "It's like this, Miss Waycott. If there's a ghost of a chance that you go back to Johnny Bamsey, then I'd rather not, because it wouldn't be vitty and might add to trouble. So if you're in doubt--even a hair's breadth--we'd better wait."