“Ah, Jane! I know what that means. I remember too well all the warm and bitter words that passed between my father and his on that subject. Would he had stayed in the peaceful Plantations! The ocean between us was not a wider separation than the gulf that divides party from party at home; besides, Jane, he is deluded: they will play upon his generous nature,--they will make a traitor of him. Rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft. Would he had stayed abroad!” “I must not forget, Katharine, to tell you that he strictly charged me to say that he was loyal. ‘It is a word,’ said he, ‘of many imports:’--mind you tell her that I am loyal.’--No, dear Katharine, his is no traitor’s heart: he may be on the wrong side of the quarrel, but he is the King’s true subject at the bottom.” “Hush! Jane; whisper not these dangerous words,--there is deceit in them. The soul’s enemy finds each of us treacherous enough in will, and crooked enough in judgment, without the weak and indulgent folly of our friends. Be true to me,--be English, Jane:--I love you passing well.” Jane kissed her pale cheek; and there was another pause. At last Katharine said, in a very low voice,-- “How was Cousin Francis looking? Is he in health?” “His complexion is more brown, and he has less colour than formerly; his countenance, too, is very grave--almost sad; yet there is a steady fire in his eyes; and he is as graceful and as strong as ever. But for his late care and watching, I should say he was better in health than when he left Milverton for America.” “He was not hurt at my note, I hope,--was he, Jane? Speak truly.” “Not hurt; but disappointed, certainly. However, he is noble and sensible, and saw that it was right.” “You think so.” “I am sure of it, by his manner.” “Do you think he will go away directly?” “Yes; perhaps he is already gone. I could see in the firm and resolute step with which he walked away from me that his decision was taken.” “Then it was not at the hostelry that you saw him? Where did you meet him?” Jane now detailed, in part, the circumstances of their interview, as already related; suppressing all mention of the passionate words and gestures of Francis, and any notice of her having been seen in his company by Juxon. It had been the first intention of Jane to proceed to the house of Ruth’s mother, on whose protection she could depend, and to wait there till Francis, who she doubted not was the lodger spoken of, should return thither; for, before Jane left Milverton House, Francis had already disappeared from the Beechery. It would be easy to invent some plausible excuse to Ruth’s mother for her visit to Warwick; and, having contrived her interview with Francis as if by accident, to return to Milverton, if belated till dusk, under the old woman’s escort. But this plan was rendered unnecessary by the circumstance of Francis overtaking Jane upon her way to the city.