"I don't know," answered Isaac, looking straight forward at the gravestones, as if they could tell him what. "I would brave my father's anger in a minute if it were not for--for--if I were sure nothing would come of it. But it might." "In what way?" "I may tell you some time; not now. If Captain Copp would but be reasonable, so that I might entrust him with the secret, and--" "He would go straight off with it to Mr. Thornycroft, Isaac." "Precisely," said Isaac, answering her interruption; "and the time has hardly arrived for that. Besides, the information must come from myself. Do you think--" "Hush, Isaac!" The softly-breathed warning silenced him. On the other side the hedge was a sound of footsteps--slow steps passing towards the heath. Isaac held her to him in perfect silence until they were lost in the distance. "Let us go, Isaac." It certainly would not be expedient to be seen there, and Isaac rose, snatching as he did so his farewell kisses from her lips. Passing down the side path of the churchyard, they went out at its front entrance, and popped upon Mr. Kyne. He was evidently coming from the heath. It might have been his footsteps they had heard going towards it. Mr. Kyne looked full at them, and Anna coloured in the night's darkness to the very roots of her hair. To be caught at that hour stealing out of the churchyard with Isaac Thornycroft! "Is it you, Mr. Supervisor?" cried Isaac, gaily. "A fine evening! Take care, Miss Chester: you had better take my arm." "It's very fine," answered the supervisor; "the weather seems to have cleared up. I've been taking a stroll before my tea. We shall have a frost to-night, Miss Chester." "Safe to," rejoined Isaac, looking up at the clear sky. "How is my lady?" asked Mr. Kyne; "I heard she had come." "She has only come to go again. Coastdown never seems to suit her. She is very unwell indeed, and keeps her room." The churchyard past, Mr. Kyne, without any warning whatever, turned off on the cross path towards his home, saying good-night. Isaac looked after him in a sort of surprise. "Then Richard _has_ left it to me," he said, half aloud. "Isaac! Isaac! what will Mr. Kyne think of me?" murmured Anna. Isaac laughed. "The most he can think is that we are sweethearts," he answered in his light manner. "Oh, Isaac, have you considered? If scandal should arise!" "My darling, I have told you why that cannot be. At the first breath of it I should avow the truth. Scandal! how is it possible, when we are living here but as common acquaintances?" At the gate of the Red Court he let her enter alone, and ran back in search of Mr. Kyne. That functionary lodged at a cottage just beyond the village, and Isaac found him poking up his small fire to make the little tin kettle boil, preparatory to making his tea. "I have come to carry you off to dinner," said Isaac. "We have got a friend or two dropped in from Jutpoint, and the parson's coming. There's a brave codfish and turkey."