at
her side, proved his proprietorship by producing her Prayer-book from
his pocket, and finding all her places for her throughout the service.
When Rose dared to lift her head and look about her, she gave a sigh of
relief to see that Tom was not present.

"I dare say he thought I should like it best if he stayed away," she
thought. She was thankful that the question of her marriage was
decided and well decided.

The moon had risen when the service ended. There was a group of people
collected outside the church-gate discussing the village gossip before
they dispersed to their several homes.

Dixon pulled Rose's arm through his own, and, not allowing her to
linger for a moment, led her off. They did not either of them notice
that a man with a hat well pulled over his eyes followed them at some
little distance; and not until the village was left behind, and the
pair had turned into the road, which, with many a wind, led up to the
Court, did he attempt to lessen the space which separated them. Then,
as unconsciously Rose and Dixon walked more slowly, Tom quickened his
steps, and was alongside of them before they realized his presence. He
pushed back his hat; and Rose broke into a smothered cry of alarm as
the moonlight fell upon the haggard face and wild eyes of her rejected
lover, and she clung the tighter to Dixon's arm.

Tom's laugh was not pleasant to listen to. "You asked for my company,
Rose, but you don't seem best pleased now I've come," he said; "but,
pleased or not, I'll walk with you to-night, and say a thing or two
it's right for you to hear before we part company for good."

"I wrote to you," stammered Rose. "I sent it by a special messenger on
Saturday night to tell you that, after thinking things over,
I'd--I'd----"

"She made up her mind that I should be the best husband for her," said
Dixon, putting a protecting arm round Rose's shoulder, and finishing
off the sentence she found it so difficult to frame.

The words and the action alike maddened Tom. Was Rose to be protected
from him when, to give her pleasure and shield her from pain, had been
his one thought for the last eighteen months?

"It's only fair that, as she's chucked me for you, she should know the
sort of man she's got hold of," he stuttered.

"I didn't lose my place for being so drunk that it took the parson the
best part of the night to see me home, did I?" sneered Dixon.

"No, you didn't. But Rose shall hear now who plot