In truth he verily loved the girl, and love with him was a serious thing.

All this happened a full year before the beginning of our present story.
But something else happened also.

While that second visit was being made at Carbury there came to the hall a young man of whom Roger Carbury had said much to his cousins,--one Paul Montague, of whom some short account shall be given in this chapter.

The squire,--Roger Carbury was always called the squire about his own place,--had anticipated no evil when he so timed this second visit of his cousins to his house that they must of necessity meet Paul Montague there.

But great harm had come of it.