Perhaps it was well, however (for a young lady of her wayward moods and tenses) that the next thing she had to do was to jump up and receive Dr. Arthur, who had come by appointment to dine at Chickaree. Dinner followed presently, and thus hostess cares and responsibilities for a time took the first place. But so grave a young hostess at the head of that table was a new thing. She did not forget one of her smallest gracious duties and offices; and she talked—at least as much as sometimes; but her face kept its soberness. The eyes did not flash and the lips did not curl. Dr. Arthur gave her a keen glance once or twice, at first; but finding a certain complement to all this in the face at the foot of the table, he turned at least his outward attention to other matters. 'Charteris takes it hard that you intend to keep running, Dane,' he said. 'Some other people find it hard that _he_ don't.' 'Hard things affect people differently: they don't agree with him. And he announces that he will try how they agree with you.' 'I don't see what he can do to me at present.' 'Self-confidence is not one of your undeveloped graces. But I wish you had bought that gore at the top of the Hollow, as I bade you.' 'Powder did not care about selling it, at one time; and latterly I have had my hands too full. Why do you wish that just now, Arthur?' 'Because Powder _has_ sold it now. And if I remember, your lease of the water power has not long to run.' Wych Hazel was listening, intently, with a sparkle in her eyes at last. 'I have no lease of water power. What I own I own. But anybody above me on the stream could make me trouble. To whom has Powder sold?' 'Just what I cannot find out,' said the doctor, 'though I went to himself. 'It is no matter,' he said, 'so long as the property was not in the market.' But of course it is Charteris. Josephine's marriage makes that pretty sure.' Rollo laid down his knife and fork for a moment and sat with his head leaning upon his hand. 'As the Lord will!' he said. 'But I will not give up until I know more. I do not believe my poor people and I are to be in that man's power. I will wait and see.' But the interest of the dinner was gone for one member of the party; and the attention he gave to other people or things was a preoccupied and shadowed attention. Wych Hazel stood it a little while, watching him, much wishing that there was nobody else to hear: then she could not bear it any longer. After all, Dr. Arthur was just his brother. 'Mr. Rollo,' she said timidly, 'what means do you think the Lord can use to prevent this—that you fear?' It was worth something, to get the look he flashed across the table to her; it was so brilliant with meaning and so sweet with confidence.