She had been
disgraced. Everybody hated her, nobody had any pity. She would go to
bed. Don't speak to her--go away--go away, do! Brandy and water,
certainly not! and so on. Till at last Mrs. Porkington prevailed on her
to go to bed. We had all vanished as quickly as we could and smoked a
pipe, discussing in low tones the lowering appearance of the skies above
us, and the consequences which might ensue upon those inquiries which we
foresaw must inevitably take place.

I never quite knew how it was managed, but two policemen came the next
morning and actually examined our boots and trousers, and then had a long
interview with Mr. Porkington; and finally we, who were waiting in terror
in the dining-room, saw the pair of them go out of the front door,
touching their hats to Porkington. I thought at the time that he must
have bribed them; but afterwards, on thinking it over, I came to the
conclusion that there was no evidence of the complicity of our party. Of
course, the sedan men did not know what had happened. Porkington stoutly
refused to let the policemen come into our study, and told them he should
regard them as trespassers if they ventured to go into any other room.
The Drag, although she declared she knew the two men, had no desire to
bring the matter before the public. Porkington never said a word to any
of us upon the subject, though he looked cross and nervous. As soon as
the aunt had taken her departure (which she did the next day) he quite
recovered his good humour, and, I believe, even chuckled inwardly at the
episode. The _Babbicombe Independent_ had an amusing paragraph upon the
incident, and opined that some drunken sailors from one of the
neighbouring ports were the perpetrators of the coarse practical joke;
but we found that the general opinion among the visitors was not so wide
of the truth. However, as no one cared for the lady it took less than
nine days to get rid of the wonder.

CHAPTER VI.--THE SHORE.

"Barton," said Glenville, "I want to speak to you, old chap. You won't
mind me speaking to you, will you?"

Barton's brow clouded at once. He knew what was coming. "I don't know
what you mean," said he.

"Well, I want to talk to you about that girl."

"What right have you to interfere? That's my business, not yours."

"If you are going to be angry, I'll shut up. But I tell you plainly,
it's a beastly shame; and if you dare to do any harm to her I'll kick you
out of the