She made a little gesture of negation. "I never say that of anybody. I don't feel I can afford to. Life has too many contradictions--too many chances. The person we most despise to-day may prove our most valuable defender to-morrow." "Heaven forbid!" said the squire. "You wouldn't touch such pitch as that under any circumstances. Besides, what do you want in the way of defenders? You're safe enough where you are." Juliet was smiling whimsically. "But who knows?" she said. "I may be dismissed in disgrace to-morrow." "No," he said briefly. "That won't happen. Your position here is secure as long as you consent to fill it." "How rash of you," she said. "A matter of opinion!" said Fielding. "How would you like to go over and see the cricket at Fairharbour this afternoon?" She gave him a quick look. "Oh, is that the alternative to the races?" He frowned. "I have already told you the races are out of the question." "I see," said Juliet thoughtfully. "Then I am afraid the cricket-match is also--unless Mrs. Fielding wants to go." "I'll make her go," said squire. "No! No! Don't make her do anything--please!" begged Juliet. "That is just the worst mistake you could possibly make. To be honest, I would rather--much--go to the open-air concert at High Shale this evening." "Along with those rowdy miners?" growled the squire. "I see enough of them on the Bench. Green of course is cracked on that subject. He'd like to set the world in order if he could." "I admire his enterprise," said Juliet. He nodded. "So do I. He's cussed as a mule, but he's a goer. He's also a gentleman. Have you noticed that?" She smiled. "Of course I have." "And I can't get my wife to see it," said the squire. "Just because--by his own idiotic choice--he occupies a humble position, she won't allow him a single decent quality. She classes them all together, when anyone can see--anyone with ordinary intelligence can see--that he is of a totally different standing from those brothers of his. He is on another plane altogether. It's self-evident. You see it at once." "Yes," said Juliet. He moved restlessly. "I would have placed him in his proper sphere if he'd consented to it. But he wouldn't. It's a standing grievance between us. That fellow Robin is a millstone round his neck. Miss Moore," he turned on her suddenly, "you have a wonderful knack of making people see reason. Couldn't you persuade him to let Robin go?" "Oh no!" said Juliet quickly. "It's the very last thing I would attempt to do." "Really!" He looked at her in genuine astonishment. Juliet flushed. "But of course!" she said. "They belong to each other. How could Mr. Green possibly part with him? You wouldn't--surely--think much of him if he did?" "I think he's mad not to," declared the squire. "But," he smiled at her, "I think it's uncommonly kind of you to take that view, all the same. I'll take you to that concert to-night if you really want to go."