'I cannot tell exactly what I may have said concerning her, when a certain matter has been discussed, but I may say, and I do sincerely assure you it is true, I have most generally spoken in her defence rather than against her.' Winefred was silent. 'I am sorry to see you in trouble,' said Jack. 'You have been crying.' 'I am angry at being followed and spied on.' 'You were in tears before I disturbed you.' 'Yes, I had been hearing an amusing story: it made me laugh and cry at once.' 'Who speaks untruth now?' 'Am I to ask your leave and to curtsey before I am permitted to shed a tear?' 'Oh, no! we have nothing to do with each other.' 'Nothing at all. I desire you to keep out of my way, but you are continually running against me or running after me. Why do you do it? Do you suppose that I carry about with me your father's gold?' 'Engage the Seaton crier to march before you wherever you go, and ring his bell and call――Clear the way, fall on your faces, or hide. Miss Holwood comes.' She burst into tears again. With an effort she mastered her emotion. 'If you will go and bray through the country that you have seen me cry, say the reason why. I have been crying because I am going away, going among strangers.' 'You are?' 'Yes.' 'I wish that were my luck.' 'To pry after me?' 'No, that I might find work. Why are you going away?' 'To be made into a lady. My father is a gentleman.' 'And where is this wonderful change to be made?' 'I will not tell you. Of one thing I am glad. For that I shed no tears. I shall be relieved of your presence.' 'I cannot get away from Seaton. I am like one of the pebbles here, rolled up and down, forward, backward――and always on the one ridge. Is your mother leaving also?' 'She is not. This is Mrs. Jose's doing. That is to say, she has found the place where I am to be. She has got distinguished relatives who live in the best society. I am to go to them. They are to roll me up and down, forward and backward, till all my roughness is rubbed away.' 'Ah! you――but you are a precious stone――chalcedony, a hard one. I――I am rolled, but only to be ground to nothing.' Winefred was slightly softened. She said, 'Have you consulted Mrs. Jose? She is every one's friend, and helpful to all in difficulties. But if she offers you the place of button boy to her relatives, I shall refuse to go to them.' 'You must dislike me vastly.' 'I hate you.' She looked steadily into his troubled face, and, after a pause, added, 'And do not you hate me?' 'Well――I suppose I do. Perhaps so. Yes, of course I do.' 'As I do, most heartily?' 'Yes, most heartily.' CHAPTER XXIX THE SHADOW OF A CHANGE Everything in this world is comparative, there is nothing absolute.