Mrs. T.-J. was troubled in mind. She had entered into negotiations with a butler to be maintained at Winefred's expense. She was vastly alarmed lest the sudden whim to go to Bindon should be a prelude to entire withdrawal, in which event the lady would be obliged to pay the butler a month's wage for having engaged him prematurely. Moreover, the loss of Winefred would mean stinting in other ways. As she departed, Winefred said, 'I shall not forget my promise about the choughs.' At the Undercliff the cottage looked small, the fittings poor after the house at Bath; and the girl was at once aware that her mother's mode of speech differed from that of the society into which she had been introduced. And yet there was a grandeur and force, and even an approximation to culture in her mother's speech, due――she knew not to what――perhaps to the Bible, to the books it had been Winefred's wont to read aloud to her mother every evening. She was glad to be back. Her mother's happiness at having her there had something pathetic in it, and Winefred was touched to the quick. It was a pleasure to her to scramble about the cliffs, walk on the pebbles, revisit old haunts. Little did she suspect that her arrival had filled Olver Dench with alarm. He had heard sufficient to cause him considerable uneasiness. Winefred had met her father in Bath. What had passed between them? What had been divulged? When she came to the ferry to be put across to Seaton, he seized the opportunity to question her. 'So――you have been with your father?' 'Yes.' 'And what does he think of you?' 'That is a question to be put to him, not to me.' 'I suppose he wonders that your mother should go to such expense about you.' 'I do not see how he can wonder, when he finds the money.' 'Oh! he finds the money, does he?' 'Certainly.' Winefred coloured with anger. 'You do not dare to insinuate that she got the money in any other way?' 'Dear me, no. Very natural that he should provide the blunt. It will be a lot. Have you talked with him about the matter? Said that it did not suffice? Your expenses are piling up?' 'He knows what they are, and provides. I have not spoken with him about them. But really, Mr. Dench, this does not concern you.' 'Certainly not. But we are old friends and neighbours. So I like to know that you are in deep water.' After a pause, Winefred said, 'I want to obtain a couple of young choughs. Can you help me?' 'No,' he replied. 'All the birds have abandoned the cliffs on the Bindon side. But there are some in the White Cliff; yet I will not adventure my life there.' 'I will pay,' said Winefred. 'A hundred pounds would be no good to me if I lay at the foot with every bone in my body broken.' Then she stepped out of the boat. Olver, so far, was satisfied. No suspicion had crossed the minds of Mr. Holwood or of Winefred, as far as he could judge, that the remittances had been embezzled.