"I have it! I vow, it never occurred to me before. Phyllys is the next in succession. If anything happened to Giles, she would sooner or later reign here. Unless Giles should have made provision for Mrs. Keith in his will—" "Which of course he has done!" "There is no 'of course' in connection with any man's will. The most unlikely arrangements are made; the most likely are left unmade. Mrs. Keith means to provide for contingencies. Gloriously far-sighted!" Then he turned to inspect a hairy caterpillar, reposing on the grubby palm of his little grandson. Mrs. Keith, driving to the station, smoothed her ruffled plumage as best she might. Mr. Dugdale had a knack of ruffling her. When Giles' mother died, and he was given over into the care of Mrs. Keith, then a young newly-made widow with one baby-boy, Mr. Randolph undertook to pay her, so long as she should have charge of his child, a yearly income of eight hundred pounds. On the death soon after of the father, the boy's guardian continued the payment; and Giles himself, since coming of age, although she could no longer be reckoned "in charge" of him, had made her the same allowance. These facts were known to Mr. Dugdale; and Mrs. Keith knew that he knew them. She did not really suspect him of having meant to say anything unkind. She had lost her temper, because his manner ruffled her. Nobody, who observed this handsome well-dressed woman, seated in a luxurious landau, would have imagined her to be in any sense "living upon charity." And she was not, in her own opinion. She had for years been a "mother" to Giles. She had given the best of her time, thought, and affection to both boys; to Giles not less than Colin. She had earned an income, now hers so long that she seemed to possess a right to it. Charity, indeed! But the word had been foolishly her own, not Mr. Dugdale's; and this she now recognised, regretting her unreasonable annoyance. As regarded Colin, she knew that Mr. Dugdale had only "voiced" what everybody would think. A young man should certainly endeavour to make his own way in life. In the present case there were, it is true, peculiar circumstances which, if known to Mr. Dugdale, would tend to put a different complexion on the whole. But Mr. Dugdale did not know these circumstances—never would know them, she said to herself! It would have been more sensible if she had fallen in with his utterances. Of course she too wished Colin to do something, to find some pursuit, even though she knew that it was Giles' greatest pleasure to provide for him. Some pursuit,—only, "not" modelling!—"not" sculpture! Anything, rather! CHAPTER IX A MOORLAND DEATH-TRAP THOUGH Phyllys could hardly be called obstinate, she liked to carry out her intentions. On the way to Thacker's farm she saw a thickness clothing the fells, but it made no great impression on her mind. From morning to night she thought now of little but the promised visit to Castle Hill.