"Well, mamma," said Rachel, returning to the room as soon as she heard the wheels of the fly in motion upon the road across the green. She found her mother in tears,--hardly able to speak because of her sobs. "Never mind it, mamma: of course I know the kind of things they have been saying. It was what I expected. Never mind it." "But, my dear, you will be broken-hearted." "Broken-hearted! Why?" "I know you will. Now that you have learned to love him, you'll never bear to lose him." "And must I lose him?" "She says so. She says that he doesn't mean it, and that it's all nonsense." "I don't believe her. Nothing shall make me believe that, mamma." "She says it would be ruinous to all his prospects, especially just now when he has quarrelled about this brewery." "Ruinous to him!" "His mother says so." "I will never wish him to do anything that shall be ruinous to himself; never;--not though I were broken-hearted, as you call it." "Ah, that is it, Rachel, my darling; I wish he had not come here." Rachel went away across the room and looked out of the window upon the green. There she stood in silence for a few minutes while her mother was wiping her eyes and suppressing her sobs. Tears also had run down Rachel's cheeks; but they were silent tears, few in number and very salt. "I cannot bring myself to wish that yet," said she. "But he has gone away, and what can you do if he does not come again?" "Do! Oh, I can do nothing. I could do nothing, even though he were here in Baslehurst every day of his life. If I once thought that he didn't wish me--to--be--his wife, I should not want to do anything. But, mamma, I can't believe it of him. It was only yesterday that he was here." "They say that young men don't care what they say in that way now-a-days." "I don't believe it of him, mamma; his manner is so steadfast, and his voice sounds so true." "But then she is so terribly against it." Then again they were silent for a while, after which Rachel ended the conversation. "It is clear, at any rate, that you and I can do nothing, mamma. If she expects me to say that I will give him up, she is mistaken. Give him up! I couldn't give him up, without being false to him. I don't think I'll ever be false to him. If he's false to me, then,--then, I must bear it. Mamma, don't say anything to Dolly about this just at present." In answer to which request Mrs. Ray promised that she would not at present say anything to Mrs. Prime about Mrs. Rowan's visit. The following day and the Sunday were not passed in much happiness by the two ladies at Bragg's End. Tidings reached them that Mrs. Rowan and her daughter were going to London on the Monday, but no letter came to them from Luke. By the Monday morning Mrs. Ray had quite made up her mind that Luke Rowan was lost to them for ever, and Rachel had already become worn with care. During that Saturday and Sunday nothing was seen of Mrs. Prime at Bragg's End. END OF VOL. I.