was a precise as well as an ardent young
man, had had scruples about trusting to hearsay. Certainly it was
rumoured far and wide that the squire of Matstead had done as he had
said he would do, and gone to church; but Mr. Anthony was one of those
spirits who will always have things, as they say, from the
fountain-head; partly from instincts of justice, partly, no doubt, for
the pleasure of making direct observations to the principals concerned.
This was what he had done in this case. He had ridden, without a word to
any, up to Matstead, and had demanded to be led to the squire; and there
and then, refusing to sit down till he was answered, had put his
question. There had been a scene. The squire had referred to puppies who
wanted drowning, to young sparks, and to such illustrative similes; and
Anthony, in spite of his youthful years, had flared out about turncoats
and lick-spittles. There had been a very pretty ending: the squire had
shouted for his servants and Anthony for his, and the two parties had
eyed one another, growling like dogs, until bloodshed seemed imminent.
Then the visitor had himself solved the situation by stalking out of the
house from which the squire was proposing to flog him, mounting his
horse, and with a last compliment or two had ridden away. And here he
was at Froggatt on his return journey, having eaten there that dinner
which no longer would be spread for him at Matstead.

Robin sat silent till the tale was done, and at the end of it Anthony
was striding about the room, aflame again with wrath, gesticulating and
raging aloud.

Then Robin spoke, holding up his hand for moderation. "You will have the
whole house here," he said. "Well, you have cooked my goose for me."

"Bah! that was cooked at Passiontide when you went to Booth's Edge. Do
you think he'll ever have a Papist in his house again?"

"Did he say so?"

"No; but he said enough about his 'young cub.'... Nonsense, man! Come
home with me to Dethick. We'll find occupation enough."

"Did he say he would not have me home again?"

"No," bawled Anthony. "I have told you he did not say so outright. But
he said enough to show he'd have no rebels, as he called them, in his
Protestant house! Dick's to leave. Did you hear that?"

"Dick!"

"Why, certainly. There was a to-do on Sunday, and Dick spoke his mind.
He'll come to me, he says, if you have no service for him."

Robin set his teeth. It seemed as if the pelting blows would never
c