“That is what? Do you know anything about him? I should like to find out; from something they--from something this poacher fellow said--he is not a bad fellow,” said Geoff, in an undertone, with a kind of apology in his mind to the vagrant of whom he seemed to be speaking disrespectfully. “Oh, Geoff, don’t have anything to do with them, dear. You don’t know the ways of people like that. Young men think it is fine to show that they are above the prejudices of their class, but it never comes to any good. Poor Walter, if he had never seen her face, might have been--and poor John--” “But, Cousin Mary, about the brother?” “Yes: he was their brother, but we did not find it out for a long time. He was very clever, they said, and a scholar, but ashamed to belong to such poor people. He never went there when he could help it. He took no notice, I believe, of the others. He pretended to be a stranger visiting the Lakes.” “Cur!” said Geoff. “Ye--es: it was not--nice; but it must be a temptation, Geoff, when a man has been brought up so differently. Some relation had given him his education, and he was very clever. I have never felt sure whether it was a happy thing for a boy to be brought so far out of his class. He met John Musgrave somewhere, but John did not know who he was. And just about the time it all happened he went away. I used to think perhaps he might have known something; but I suppose he thought it would all come out, and his family be known. Fancy being ashamed of your own mother, Geoff! But it was hard upon him too--an old woman who would tell your fortune--who would stand with her basket in the market, you know: and he, a great scholar, and considered a gentleman. It _was_ hard; I don’t excuse him, but I was sorry for him; and I always thought if he came back again, that he might know----” Lady Stanton was not accustomed to speak so long and continuously. Her delicate cheeks were stained with red patches; her breath came quick. “Do you mean to say he has turned up again--at last?” she added, with a little gasp. “I have heard of him,” said Geoff. “I wondered--if he could have anything to do with it.”