"I take no bets; I ask you to consider. In marriage each side brings something to the common fund. What do you bring? Urith has Willsworthy." "And I Hall." "No; recollect your father's threat." "It was but a threat--he never meant it." "Suppose he did mean it, and perseveres; you will then have to be the receiver, not the giver." "The place is gone to the dogs. I can give my arms and head to it, and bring it round from the kennel." "That is something, certainly. Then, again, you are wilful, and have had your way in all things. How will you agree with a girl equally wilful and unbending?" "In the best way; we shall both will the same things. You don't understand what love is. Where two young creatures love, they do not strive, they pull together. It is of no profit talking to you, Luke, about love; it is to you what Hebrew or Greek would be to me--an unintelligible language in unreadable characters. I will be off to see Urith at once." "No," said Luke, "you must not go to Willsworthy; you will cause folks to talk." "I care nothing for their talk." "If you care nothing for what people say, how is it you fell out with and struck Fox? You must consider others besides yourself. You have no right to bring the name of Urith into discredit. Do you not suppose that already tongues are busy concerning the cause of your quarrel with your father?" "But I must see her, and come to some understanding." "I will go to Willsworthy at once, and speak to her of your matter. I have not done so hitherto--I have only sought to comfort her on the death of her mother." "I do not desire a go-between," said Anthony, peevishly. "In these concerns none can act like the principals." "But I cannot suffer you to go. You must think of Urith's good name, and not have that any more put into the mouths of those who go to the pot-house. It has been done more than enough already. Stay here till I return." Luke took up his three-corner hat and his stick and went forth. On reaching Willsworthy he did not find Urith in the house, but ascertained from a maid-servant that she was in the walled garden. Thither he betook himself across the back courtyard. The rooks were making a great noise in the sycamores outside. He found the girl seated on the herb-bank in the neglected garden, with her head on her hand, deep in thought. She was pale, and her face drawn; but the moment she saw Luke she started up and flushed. "I am so glad you are come. You will tell me something about Anthony?" She was only glad to see him because he would speak of Anthony, thought Luke; and it gave a pang to his heart. "Yes," said he, taking a seat beside her, "I will speak to you about Anthony." She looked him full in the face out of her large, earnest, dark eyes. "Is it true," she asked, "what I have been told, that he has fallen out with his father, and is driven from Hall?"