"I am so glad that mother made you stay--just that I might tell you." Then her breath began to hasten. "Mother says you are--or may be--unjustly attacked--that you don't think it right to defend yourself publicly--and those who follow you, and admire you, may be hurt and troubled. I wanted to say--and mother approves--that whoever is hurt and troubled, I can never be--except for you. Besides, I shall know and ask nothing. You may be sure of that. And people will not dare to speak to me." She stood proudly erect. Meynell was silent for a moment. Then, by a sudden movement, he stooped and kissed a fold of her cloak. She drew back with a little stifled cry, putting out her hands, which he caught. He kissed them both, dropped them, and walked away from her. When he returned it was with another aspect. "Don't let's make too much of this trouble. It may all die away--or it may be a hard fight. But whatever happens, you are going to Westmoreland immediately. That is my great comfort." "Is it?" She laughed unsteadily. He too smiled. There was intoxication he could not resist--in her presence--and in what it implied. "It is the best possible thing that could be done. Then--whatever happens--I shall not be compromising my friends. For a while--there must be no communication between them and me." "Oh, yes!" she said, involuntarily clasping her hands. "Friends may write." "May they?" He thought it over, with a furrowed brow, then raised it, clear. "What shall they write about?" An exquisite joyousness trembled in her look. "Leave it to them!" Then, as she once more perceived the anxiety and despondency in him, the brightness clouded; pity possessed her: "Tell me what you are preaching--and writing." "_If_ I preach--_if_ I write. And what will you tell me?" "'How the water comes down at Lodore,'" she said gayly. "What the mountains look like, and how many rainy days there are in a week." "Excellent! I perceive you mean to libel the country I love!" "You can always come and see!" she said, with a shy courage. He shook his head. "No. My Westmoreland holiday is given up." "Because of the Movement?"