"I'm not without friends, after all," he said, musing. "Then this quietness is only the precursor of some other storm. I'll go up at once." He made Iiis way straight to the House, and all was very quiet in the town. Men were lounging about, and their thin sad-faced wives were to be seen here and there busy within, but no sign was visible of the coming storm; and for a while the vicar was ready to doubt the possibility of anything threatening, till he recalled Big Harry's action, and felt certain that the man's words must be true. Any doubt he might have had was, however, dispelled a moment or two later, for he saw Tom Podmore coming towards him; but as soon as the young man caught sight of the vicar he turned sharply round and went away. "There is something wrong, and he's mixed up in it," muttered the vicar. "Of course, he is Big Harry's friend, and so the great fellow knew it. Perhaps, though, he sent him to caution me!" It was a random shot, but it hit the mark, for Tom, being held in suspicion by his fellows, could not well stir in the matter; and in talking it over with Big Harry, the latter had declared he would warn parson, and so he had. The vicar was shown in directly, and found the family at the House seated together. He was rather shocked to see Eve's pallid face; but she brightened up at his coming, and seemed to him to be trying to show him how happy they once more were. Mrs Glaire, too, looked pale and careworn, but she was eager in her ways, and glad to see him, while Richard, in a half-civil way, but with a shifty look in his eye, shook hands and muttered something about the weather. "Here, Eve, we'll go down the garden together," said Richard; "Mr Selwood's come to see my mother." "No," said the vicar, quietly, "I have come to see you." "To see me?" "Yes; on very important business." "If you've come from those scoundrels," said Richard, hotly, "I won't hear a word. Let them come themselves." "Richard!" said Mrs Glaire, imploringly. "I don't care, mother. I've given way to a certain extent, and I'll go no further." "But I have not come from the men," said the vicar. "Then what is it?" said Richard, who had a horror of being left alone with his visitor. "Speak out." "I would rather tell you in private," said the vicar, glancing uneasily at the two women. "If it is any fresh trouble, Mr Selwood, pray speak out," said Mrs Glaire, anxiously. "But Miss Pelly?" "Richard is to be my husband in a few days, Mr Selwood," said Eve, smiling sadly, as she rose and stood beside him, with her hands resting on his shoulder. "If it is trouble, I have a right to share it with him." "There, let's have it," said Richard, rudely. "They will have to hear whatever it is." The vicar hesitated a moment or two, and tried to collect himself, for Eve's last words sent a pang through his breast, as they seemed to tear the last fibre that had held her to him. At last he spoke.