Meanwhile Trevor had gone along the lane, evidently meaning to make a call at Tolcarne. He was walking with his head bent down, thinking very deeply over what Pratt had said, when he stopped short with a start; for there, just in front, and gazing at him in a startled way, was little Polly. He nodded to her and passed on; but ere he had gone a dozen yards, he turned sharp round and retraced his steps, calling to the girl to stop. "I'll get to the bottom of it at once," he said. "Here, Polly." The little girl turned, and stood trembling before him, her face like fire, but her eyes full of tears. "Did you call me, sir?" she faltered. "Yes, my little maid, I want a few words with you." "Oh, sir, please--pray don't speak to me!" faltered the girl, bursting into tears. "Why, you silly child, what are you afraid of?" cried Trevor, catching her by the wrist. "Look here, tell me this, and don't be afraid." "No--no, sir," faltered the girl. "Tell me now, honestly--there, there, stop that crying, for goodness' sake! Any one would think I was an ogre. I hate to see a woman crying." "Please, sir, I am trying," sobbed the girl. "Now, then, I want to know this--you have often met me here--do you come to meet Humphrey?" "No, sir." "Then why the deuce--there--there, I don't mean that--tell me why you do come?" "Aunt sends me to walk here, sir; but please don't say I told you, or she will be so angry." "Then you don't want to come and walk here?" "Oh no, sir! I would much rather not," exclaimed the girl, eagerly. "Your aunt sends you, then?" said Trevor, looking at her searchingly, while she gazed up in his eyes like a dove before a hawk. "Ye-yes, sir!" "Do you know why?" The girl's face grew fiery red now, even to the roots of her hair, and as she looked appealingly at him, he flung her hand angrily from him. "There, go back," he exclaimed. "I'm not cross with you, but--there, go home." The girl sprang away, evidently frightened to death, and weeping bitterly, to pass these people--she could not tell whom--as she held down her head; but Trevor saw, and he knew that they saw him, and must have witnessed part of the interview; for the party consisted of Tiny Rea, her sister, and Mr Mervyn. "Was ever anything so provoking?" muttered Trevor, as they bowed and passed, taking a turning that led in another direction. "Oh! this is unbearable." For a moment he stood irresolute, hesitating as to whether he should hurry after them; but he was, to use his own words, too much taken aback, and ended by following a narrow pathway into the woods, down which he had not gone half a dozen yards before he became aware that there had been another spectator to his interview with Polly, and that no less a person than Humphrey. "What the devil are you doing there, sir?" roared Trevor, who was half beside himself with a rage which grew hotter as the bluff young Cornishman stood leaning on his gun, and said, sturdily-- "Watching you, sir."