ew minutes, Mrs Rimbolt would have known all about
young Forrester. Once again, however, he was stopped in time, and a few
moments' reflection convinced him it was as well.

Raby, he knew, whatever she might think of Jeffreys, would never forgive
the informant who should be the means of turning him out of Wildtree,
still less would Percy. Nor was Mr Rimbolt likely to esteem his guest
more highly in the capacity of tale-bearer; and he decidedly wished to
"keep in" with all three.

And there was another reason still.

Scarfe was at the bottom of his heart not quite a villain, and much as
he detested Jeffreys, and longed to be revenged--for what injury do
certain minds feel half so much as that which one man commits in being
better than another?--he had an uncomfortable suspicion in his mind that
after all Jeffreys was not quite the miscreant he tried to imagine him.

That he was guilty in the matter of young Forrester there was no doubt;
but much as he should have liked to believe it, he could not be quite
sure that the accident at Bolsover was the result of a deliberate
murderous design, or indeed of anything more than the accidental
catastrophe of a blundering fit of temper--criminal, if you like, and
cowardly, but not fiendish. And his conscience made coward enough of
him just now to cause him to hesitate before plunging into ruin one who,
hateful as he was to him, was after all a poor wretch, miserable enough
for any one.

Not having done what he intended to do, Scarfe felt decidedly virtuous,
and considered himself entitled to any amount of credit for his
forbearance! It seemed a pity Raby should not know of this noble effort
of self-denial.

"Miss Atherton," said he, just as they were about to separate for the
night, "I'm afraid you will have forgotten all about me when you see me
next."

"You are very uncomplimentary, Mr Scarfe."

"I do not mean to be; and I'm sure I shall not forget you."

"Thank you. This has been a very eventful visit."

"It has; but I shall never regret that day on the ice, although I fear I
made one enemy by what I did."

"You don't understand Mr Jeffreys; he is very shy and proud."

"I understand him quite well, and wish for Percy's sake every one here
did too. But I am not going to disobey you, and talk of people behind
their backs, Miss Atherton. I am sure you will approve of that."

"I do; I never like it unless it is something nice of them."

"Then I certainly had