It was one night about eleven. Everybody in the early house had gone to rest an hour and a half before, as John Maine stole downstairs softly, and was about to turn the key of a back-door, when a warm hand was laid upon his, and a voice he well knew whispered-- "If you value your home here, go back to bed. Some one has told my uncle that you go out o' nights, and he is on the watch." "Jessie!" He stretched out his hands, but they only came in contact with the whitewashed wall, and he knew that he was alone. But had any one spoken, or was it only fancy? No; it was no fancy. His motions had been watched, and Jessie had come between him and trouble. As to the spy upon his actions, that was plain enough. Tom Brough had been busy, and had seen him when watching of a night, and what should he do? He had his object for these nocturnal rambles, and he was bound to continue them, but this night he was bound to stay. Yes, he must stay, if only for Jessie's sake; and casting off his indecision he returned softly to his room, where he threw off his things and went to bed. An hour slowly passed, during which he lay restless and wakeful. Then, when worn out with restless impatience, and half determined to go out at all hazards, a step was heard in the passage, a board creaked; there was a light shining beneath the door, and then after a pause the handle was turned gently, and the light flashed in his face. "Maine! John Maine!" said the farmer, sharply. "Yes; what is it? Anything wrong?" said the young man, starting up. "One of the horses seems very uneasy," said the farmer. "I'm afraid there's something wrong in the stable. I came to ask you to go down, but he seems quieter now, and mebbe it isn't worth while. Try and keep yoursen wacken for 'bout an hour, and if you hear owt go down and see." John Maine said he would, and old Bultitude went off, muttering to himself, while the young man lay thinking and wondering how he was to carry out his plans in the future. What was he to do? How was he to do it? The only way he could see out of the difficulty was that the burden must be thrown on the shoulders of Tom Podmore. Day had hardly broken before John Maine, who had heard no more of the restless horse, was up, and that day, seeking out Tom Podmore, he had had a long and earnest conversation with him, with the result of getting his mind more set at ease. And now it had come about in turn that Tom Podmore had had to seek out John Maine, to ask his help, with the result that, old Bultitude being away, his foreman just went in and told Jessie he was going out; and as she did not turn her face to him as he spoke, he went away sighing heavily; while pale, and trembling, Jessie ran to the window, and, in hiding behind the blind, watched the two young men till they were out of sight. Volume 2, Chapter XV. A THANKLESS TASK.