When they reached a certain point, Richard drew back, and, from a coign of vantage, saw Barbara try the study-window and fail. He then followed her as she went round to the door, and, still covertly, saw her ring the bell. The door was opened with what seemed to him a portentous celerity, and she disappeared. He turned away into the park, and wandered about, revolving many things, till by slow gradations the sky's gray idea unfolded to a brilliant conviction, and, lo, there was the morning, not to be controverted! But he took care to let the house not only come awake, but come to its senses, before he sought admission. When it seemed well astir, he rang the bell; and when the door, after some delay, was opened, he went straight to the library, and was fairly at work by five o'clock. He saw nothing of Barbara all day, or indeed of any of the family except Vixen, who looked in, made a face at him, and went away, leaving the door open. At eight o'clock he had his breakfast, and at nine he was again in the library; so that by lunch-time he had been seven of his eight hours at work, and by half-past two found himself free to go to his grandfather's and inquire after Alice. On his way to the road through the park, he met Arthur Lestrange. Richard touched his hat as was his wont, and would have passed, but, with no friendly expression on his countenance, Arthur stopped. “Where are you going, Tuke?” he said. “I am going to my grandfather's, sir,” answered Richard. “Excuse me, but your day's work is not over by many hours yet.” Richard found his temper growing troublesome, but tried hard to keep it in hand. “If you remember, sir,” he said, “our agreement mentioned no hour for beginning or leaving off work.” “That is true, but you undertook to give me eight hours of your day!” “Yes, sir. I was at work by five o'clock this morning, and have given you more than eight hours.” “Hm!” said Arthur. “I am quite as anxious,” pursued Richard, “to fulfill my engagement, as you can be to have it fulfilled.” Arthur said nothing. “Ask Thomas, who let me in this morning,” resumed Richard, “whether I was not at work in the library by five o'clock.” It went a good deal against the grain with Richard to appeal to any witness for corroboration: he was proud of being a man of his word; but although not greatly anxious to keep his temporary position, he was anxious the compact should not be broken through anything he did or said. “Let you in?” exclaimed Arthur; “--let you in before five o'clock in the morning? Then you were out all night!” “I was.” “That cannot be permitted.” “I am surely right in believing that, when my work is over, I am my own master! I had something to do that must be done. My grandfather knows all I was about!” “Oh, yes, I remember! old Simon Armour, the blacksmith!” returned Arthur. “But,” he went on, plainly softening a little, “you ought not to work for him while you are in my employment.”