Meanwhile the vicar had missed Eve, who had taken another route, and made his way up to the big house, where he was shown into the room to find Mrs Glaire lying, very pale and weak, upon the couch. She apologised for not rising, and as he took her hand, he felt that it was hot and feverish. "I ought to be the doctor," he said pleasantly, as he retained the hand. "There's too much fever here." "No doctor will cure that," she said, with a sad smile. "I only want peace of mind, and then I shall be well; and you have come to bring more bad news." "Oh," said the vicar, carelessly, "I only wanted a bit of a chat with your son." "Mr Selwood," said Mrs Glaire, "don't please speak to me like that. It is dreadful to me; and makes me feel as if I could not trust and believe in the one man in whom I wish to confide." "Then in heaven's name," he began, but she interrupted him. "I have had faith and trust in you, Mr Selwood, from the first day you came." "Then you shall continue it," he said, firmly. "I was reticent because I thought you too ill to bear bad tidings." "I can bear all," she said, softly; "pray tell me the worst." "Well," he said, quietly, "we will not talk of worst, for there is no danger that cannot be warded off." "If my son likes?" said Mrs Glaire. "If your son likes," continued the vicar. "The fact is, Mrs Glaire, the people are getting furious against him, and without going into the question of right or wrong, the sufferings of their wives and children are maddening the men. This lock-out ought to end." "Yes," said Mrs Glaire, sighing, "it ought." "It was a dastardly trick, that destruction of the machinery, but I believe it was the work of one brain, and one pair of hands." "Why do you think so?" "I have had endless communications with the locked-out men, and, as far as I can judge character, I find them very rough, very independent, but, at the same time, frank and honest, and I cannot find one amongst them who does not look me full in the face with a clear unblushing eye, and say, `Parson, if I know'd who did that dirty sneaking business, I'd half kill him.' This in these or similar words." Mrs Glaire bowed her head. "Yes," she said; "you have given the men's character in those words, but they are cruelly bitter against my son." "They are," said the vicar, hesitating to tell his news. "And they think he has persuaded Daisy Banks to leave her home." "Almost to a man, though her father holds out." "Joe Banks always will be staunch," said Mrs Glaire. "And you think with the men about that, Mr Selwood?" "I would rather not answer that question," he said. "Then we will not discuss it," she replied rather hotly. "But you came to bring me some tidings, Mr Selwood," she continued, holding out her hand. "Forgive me if I feel as a mother, and defend my son."