last moment Marple had to stop. One of the women
laughed, she had a very shrill voice and she explained that the old man
looked so funny in the ditch; Marple shouted to Bell--something about the
damage to his tires--and I could see the others smiling at what he said.
That was worse than the words he used. Then they went on, leaving the old
man to gather up his sheep; he hadn't a dog with him. That kind of thing
leaves its mark!"

"Distinctly so," Nasmyth agreed. "Still, Marple and his lot are
exceptions. Wasn't Clarence rather thick with them?"

"Yes," she answered. "I've been rather disturbed about him."

Nasmyth did not know what this meant. He thought she would hardly have
made such an admission had she contemplated marrying the man; and, if
not, it was somewhat difficult to see why he should cause her serious
concern. He knew, however, that Millicent could not look on unmoved when
her friends left the right path; he could think of two or three whom she
had helped and gently checked from further straying. This reflection was
a relief to him, because he was determined that she should not marry
Clarence if he could prevent it. If necessary, he would tell her the part
the man had played in Canada, though he shrank from doing so.

"Marple and his acquaintances are not the people one would have expected
Clarence to associate with," he continued. "Still, in my opinion, he's
doing worse in making a friend of that fellow Batley. I could never
understand the connection--the man strikes me as an adventurer. Has he
spent much time here since I've been away?"

"A good deal, off and on. But it's getting chilly and I half expect a
reproving lecture from Miss Hume when I go in. First, though, tell me a
little more about the young Canadian you had with you."

"I don't know much. I met him by accident--he has an interest in some
mines, I believe, but he struck me as a remarkably fine type. Clever at
woodcraft, as handy with the ax and paddle as our professional guide, but
when he talked about other things he seemed to know a good deal more than
I do." He smiled. "After all, that's not surprising. But what I liked
most was the earnestness of the fellow; he had a downright way of
grappling with things, or explaining them to you. Sensible, but direct,
not subtle."

"I've met men of that description, and I'm rather prejudiced in their
favor," declared Millicent, smiling. "But what was he like in
person--slightly rugged?"

"No;