It appeared that Mrs. Jeep considered it her duty to mention what "they" were saying about Miss Pamela. It was "all over the village" that Miss Pamela had removed the hurdle and had caused Mr. Badger’s sheep to wander like the Israelites in the desert: some having been found at Peterock, one been run over on the main road to the station, and several still lost. That Miss Pamela had opened the gates at both ends of Spill land--the senseless name of the field in which the mare and the heifers were pastured--and let the animals out. "They will have it as Badger’s mare is so bad with the colic that she won’t get over it. Green corn’s shocking food for a horse--well, serve her right, the greedy creature--but the heifers, five of them, have trampled the field he’d laid by for hay something cruel. I’m repeating what they say, ma’am--there may be an ounce of truth to a barrel of lies--we know how they talk. But anyway, it’s laid to Miss Pamela. In my opinion, that Badger’s trying to make a case for himself. He thinks he knows where the money lays! I don’t hold with that Badger, ma’am; never did, he’s too free with his gossip. What I say is, Miss Pamela knows the rights of a field just as well as them Badgers. She was never one for mischief--not from a child. It’s silly nonsense, that’s what it is, ma’am, but I thought I’d tell you in case that feller comes round making out a case for damage." Mrs. Jeep stayed, breathless; she had been fighting the family battles since the milk came from Paramore’s in the morning. It was the milkman that first brought the tale; followed shortly by the postman and the baker. Hennery Doe had "known ove night", he admitted, but, as he disapproved of gossip just as decidedly as of eight-hour days, the story had remained with him. "Oh dear, oh _dear_," said Mrs. Romilly, "it really is too absurd. Poor little Pamela seems to be in the wars all round. What is the matter? Why are people so hopelessly idiotic?" Mrs. Jeep sympathized respectfully. She intended to uphold the family whatever turn the matter took, though in her secret heart she thought it not an impossible contingency that Pamela might have left a gate open. "Unluckily she was there--in the evening," allowed Mrs. Romilly; "if only I could say she was at home!" There it was. Mr. Badger first of all wrote a letter to Mrs. Romilly. This he followed up by a visit, next morning, and poor Pamela was sent for to the library. She was pale and worried; there was an anxious look in her grey-blue eyes, for the situation was so entirely new to all her experiences that she felt like a convict. Mrs. Romilly said: "Pam dear, tell Mr. Badger what you saw, and what you did."