Ida saw a tall, broad-shouldered figure with a tawny face and a long brown beard. The face was half hidden under a slouched felt hat, the figure was clad in clumsy corduroy. Ida was just near enough to see that the outline of the face was good, when the man rose and went into his hut, shutting the door behind him. 'Discourteous, to say the least of it,' she exclaimed, laughing at Vernon's disconcerted look. 'I'll make him open his door,' said the boy, running towards the cottage; but Ida ran after him and stopped him midway. 'Don't, my pet,' she said; 'every man's house is his castle, even Cheap Jack's. Besides I have really no wish to make your friend's acquaintance. Oh, Vernie,' looking at her watch, 'it's a quarter-past nine! We must go home as fast as ever we can.' 'He is a nasty disagreeable thing,' said Vernon. 'I did so want you to see the inside of his cottage. He has no end of books, and the handsomest fox terrier you ever saw--and such a lot of pipes, and black bear skins to put over his bed at night--such a jolly comfortable little den! I shall have one just like it in the park when I come of age.' 'You talk of doing so many things when you come of age.' 'Yes; and I mean to do them, every one; unless you and mother let me do them sooner. It's a dreadful long time to wait till I'm twenty-one!' 'I don't think we are tyrants, or that we shall refuse you anything reasonable.' 'Not a cottage in the park?' 'No, not even a cottage in the park.' They walked back at a brisk pace, by common and park, not loitering to look at anything, though the glades and hills and hollows were lovely in that dim half-light which is the darkness of summer. The new moon hung like a silver lamp in mid-heaven, and all the multitude of stars were shining around and above her, while far away in unfathomable space, shone the mysterious light which started on its earthward journey in the years that are gone for ever. Lady Palliser was not calmly slumbering in front of the tea-table, in the mellow light of a duplex lamp, after her wont. She was standing at the open window, watching for Ida's return. 'Oh, my dear, I have been so frightened,' she exclaimed, as Ida and Vernon appeared. 'About what, dear mamma?' 'About Brian. He has been going on so. Rogers came to tell me, and I went up to the corridor, and asked him to unlock his door and let me in, but he wouldn't. Perhaps it was providential that he didn't unlock the door, for he might have killed me.' 'Oh, mamma, what nonsense!' exclaimed Ida. She hurried Vernon off to bed before his mother could say another word, and then went back to the widow, who was walking about the drawing-room in much perturbation. 'Now tell me everything,' said Ida; 'I did not want Vernon to be frightened.' 'No, indeed, poor pet. But oh! Ida, if he should try to kill Vernon!' 'Dear mother, he has no idea of killing anyone. What can have put such dreadful notions in your head?'