him, therefore she had declared her purpose of going back to
Dillsborough, in doing which she knew that Larry and the girls
would accompany her. But of course Mr, Morton would think that she
had preferred the company of her recognised admirer. It was pretty
well known in Dillsborough that Larry was her lover. Her stepmother
had spoken of it very freely; and Larry himself was a man who did
not keep his lights hidden under a bushel. "I hope I've not been in
the way, Mary," said Mr. Twentyman, as soon as Morton was out of
hearing.

"In the way of what?"

"I didn't think there was any harm in offering to go up to the
house with you if you were going."

"Who has said there was any harm?" The path was only broad enough
for one and she was walking first. Larry was following her and the
girls were behind him.

"I think that Mr. Morton is a very stuck-up fellow," said Kate, who
was the last.

"Hold your tongue, Kate," said Mary. "You don't know what you are
talking about"

"I know as well as any one when a person is good-natured. What made
him go off in that hoity-toity fashion? Nobody had said anything to
him."

"He always looks as though he were going to eat somebody," said