"Thou—must go, Janet," he said, touching her on the arm. "Yes," she answered dully. "The Lean man is at the gate; he has brought Nell with him." "Yes, Ned." "God, lass, how _dare_ I let thee out of sight!" he cried, his studied coldness breaking down. Something of the devil that is in every woman prompted the girl to tempt him. He had mastered her, and even yet she grudged it him; there would be a sort of reprisal in trying his strength to the utmost. "Keep me, Ned," she whispered. "Keep me, dear, and think no shame to break faith with a Ratcliffe.—Hark, Ned, how soft the garden-breezes are—and the roses; are they not heavy on the air? Let’s wander down among them, and talk of the days to come." Her heart failed her as she saw his agony. He did not glance at her, nor speak, but stood looking straight before him as he put honour in the balance and marvelled that it weighed so light. "Is that thy wish, girl?" he asked hoarsely. "Nay, ’tis neither thy wish nor mine," she cried with a troubled laugh. "Forgive me, Ned; I—I tempted thee for wantonness. There! Bid me farewell, dear; ’tis idle to make the parting harder." As they gained the hall he stopped, and held his arms wide for her. "Once again, Janet—_thy master_," he muttered. "_My master_—to the end, dear lad. There shall none take thy place, however ill it fares with me; and when need comes, I’ll send for thee.—But, Ned, thou’lt promise to do naught rash? Move slowly—and wait till I can come to thee with the best chance of safety." She slipped from his grasp and ran quickly out, brushing against Nell Wayne as she crossed to the gate. "Good even to you, Mistress. Shall I offer thanks for the night’s work you’ve done?" said Nell. "I should accept none," answered the other, in the same hard voice. The Waynes opened their ranks to let her pass through, and one offered her a hand to mount by; and just as they were starting, Shameless Wayne came to the Lean Man’s crupper, a brimming flagon in his hands. "You came in peace, and I’ll not have it said you lacked any of the usages of peace," said Wayne, holding the flagon up. "My faith, you traffic in niceties!" muttered the Lean Man. "’Tis the first wine-cup any of your house has offered me these score years past." "And ’twill be the last, belike, for another score; so drink deep, sir, while you have the chance." Nicholas turned the flagon upside down with sudden spleen, and watched the stones darken as the wine splashed on to them. "When I drink out of your cup, Wayne of Marsh," he said, "I shall lack wine more than ever I lacked it yet." They set off, he and Janet, and once only the girl turned for a last look at Wayne.