"I told Red Ratcliffe I would fight him," she cried eagerly, "and may be I shall worst him yet.—But to lie?—Ned, Ned, I’m glad thou dost not guess how deep my love for thee has gone. _To lie_? Well, ’twill be nearly truth if told for his sake. He goes on Thursday, does he, to Bents Farm? Well, there’s three days ’twixt now and then." *CHAPTER XV* *MOTHER-WIT* The Lean Man and Red Ratcliffe were standing in the courtyard at Wildwater, and Nicholas was regarding his grandson with cold displeasure. "Thy tale hangs ill together, lad," he said, "and I’ll not believe a word of it till Janet has told me her side of the matter. What, one of our breed go meeting one of _them_ by stealth? By the Heart, if thou hast let jealousy——" "But, sir, I saw them; they were as close as I am to you, and his words were honeyed if his low voice and earnest look were aught to go by." "Well, there’s no more to be said. ’Tis beyond belief, and I had rather saddle thee with a lie than Janet with such wantonness.—Peste! Where is the girl? She should be back by now, unless her search has taken her further afield than a handful of plovers’ eggs is worth." "Haply she is with Wayne of Marsh, sir," said the other softly. The Lean Man pointed through the open gate. "Is she, then?" he snarled. "The next time thou dost hazard a guess of that sort, be sure the maid is not in sight already. Now, lad, I’ll front thee with her straight, and we’ll plumb the bottom of this matter." Janet saw them while she was two-score yards away, and her heart sank for the moment. Her plan seemed harder of fulfilment now that she was all but face to face with the Lean Man. But she carried herself bravely, and crossed the open with a firm step, and held her basket out to Nicholas with a curtsey. "Here are the eggs, sir. Have I not done well?" she said. "Put them down, girl," said Nicholas, and paused, afraid to ask the question which might kill his love for her. Janet was quick to take advantage of his hesitation. "I’ve done more than rob the peewits this morning, grandfather," she went on, with a glance at Red Ratcliffe. "Whom did I meet, think ye, above the Hill House waterfall?" A foreboding seized the younger man; for her glance said plainly that she had no fear of what he might have told his grandfather. "Whom, lass? Come, tell me quick," said Nicholas. "Why, Shameless Wayne—and learned somewhat from him which he little thought might prove of service to you." "Shameless Wayne? What led thee to Shameless Wayne?" cried Nicholas. "Nay, what led _him_ to talk to me? ’Tis not the first time, either. Not long ago, as I was crossing the fields this side of Marshcotes, he stopped me by the way, and made much of some little acquaintance which once there was between us." Nicholas shot a glance of triumph at Red Ratcliffe, and one of doubt at Janet. "Thou should’st have passed him by," he said.