Lady Ann was becoming more and more convinced that Richard was at the root of the affair, and she hated him. With the greatest effort she kept up her apparent indifference before Barbara. How was she to assure herself concerning the fellow? How could she discover what he knew? She could not even think with that little savage sitting there, staring out of her wide eyes!

“My sweet Barbara,” she said, “I am so much obliged to you for letting me know. I will not ask any promise from you. Only you must not unnecessarily bring trouble upon us. If the thing were talked about, some unprincipled lawyer would be sure to take it up and raise a hubbub, and thousands of ignorant honest folk would be duped of their money to enrich the rascal. Such people are never of any service to the country. It is a wrong to all classes when a man without education succeeds to property. For one thing, he will always side with the tenants against the land. And what service can any such man render his country in parliament? Without suitable training there can be no genuine right.”

To all this Barbara had been paying little heed. She was revolving in her mind whether she ought to tell Richard. But she could come to no conclusion.

She rode all the way home thinking about it. She must seek counsel! But from whom? Not of her mother! And just as certainly not of her father! She had no grounds for trusting the judgment of either.

Having gotten rid of Miss Brown, she walked to the parsonage.

But she did not there find such a readiness to give advice as she had expected after she had told Wingfold her story.

“The thing is not my business,” he said.

“Not!” returned the impetuous Barbara. “I thought you were interested in the young man! You told me the other day that he had seen you again and had a long talk with you.”

“Yes, and of course I am interested in him, as I am in everyone. Tell me then, Miss Wylder—are you interested in the young man because he might have a claim?”

“Certainly not!” answered Barbara with indignation.

“Then why should I be?” pursued the parson. “What is it to me? I am not a county magistrate.”

“I cannot understand you, Mr. Wingfold!” protested Barbara. “You say you are there for the people, yet you will not move to see right done!”

“I would move a long way to see that Mr. Tuke cared to do right—that is my business. It is not much to me, and nothing of my business, whether Mr. Tuke be rich or poor. It is everything to me whether Mr. Tuke will be an honest fellow or not.”

“But if he should prove to have rights?”