Janet crept softly over the strip of lawn without rousing him, and went through the wicket that opened on the pasture-fields. Nell Wayne was here, then, and in peril—Mistress Nell, who had railed on her as a light woman because she had gained the love of Shameless Wayne, who had flouted her as if she were mud beneath her feet. A savage joy burned in the girl’s heart for a moment; but after it there came the memory of Red Ratcliffe’s words; and it seemed a poor thing to humble Nell if Wayne were to pay a better price for it. Could she do naught to help him? She smiled in self-derision. The last time she had sought to help Wayne, she had all but compassed his undoing. Yet how could she rest idle, knowing what was to come? As of old, she turned to the moor for help, and walked the heather feverishly; and not till the sun was lowering fast toward Dead Lad’s Rigg did she return to Wildwater. Nicholas and Red Ratcliffe were in hall together, the younger man full of talk, the other taciturn and hopeless. "The messenger has gone, sir," Red Ratcliffe was saying; "Wayne will be here before long—rouse yourself, for we’re growing to lose heart at sight of you." "Give me the key of the room where Mistress Nell is prisoned. I want to speak with her," said Janet, coming boldly up to them. "A likely request, cousin! The key lies safe in my pocket, and there ’twill stay." "When Janet asks aught, thou’lt give it her, thou cross-mannered whelp," put in the Lean Man sharply. A lack of courtesy toward his chosen one could rouse him even yet. Red Ratcliffe hesitated, then gave way to the old habit of obedience; but, as Janet took the key and crossed to the passage leading to Nell’s prison, he followed her. "I’ll stay this side the door while thou hast speech of her," he said, with an ugly smile. "As it pleases thee," she answered, opening the door and closing it behind her. She had meant to set the captive free, at any hazard to herself; but she was prepared to find her scheme thwarted in some such way, and she had a likelier plan ready framed against the failure of the first. It was not needful now to have speech at all of Nell; but lest suspicion should fall more darkly on her than it need she must go in. The room was low and small, lighted by a single narrow window that showed a sweep of purpling moor. Nell Wayne was sitting at the casement, her eyes fixed hungrily on the freedom that was almost within touch of her hand; she sprang to her feet as the door opened, and turned at bay; and when she saw who stood before her the fierceness deepened in her eyes and straight-set figure.