What mysteries there were in the human spirit--mysteries to which that knowledge of mankind on which he prided himself gave him no key! "What if I were laid on my back to-morrow for life, by a fall, a blow, as I have seen many a better man than me;--should I not wish to have one to talk to me, as she was talking to that child ?" And for a moment a yearning after Grace came over him, as it had done before, and swept from his mind the dark cloud of suspicion.
"Now I must talk with your mother," said he; "for you have better company than mine; and I hear her just coming in." He settled little matters for his patient's comfort with the farmer's wife.

When he returned to bid her good-bye Grace was gone.
"I hope I have not driven her away." "Oh no; she had been here an hour, and she must go back now, to get her mother's supper." "That is a good girl," said Tom, looking after her as she went down the field.
"She's an angel from heaven, sir.

Not a three days go over without her walking up here all this way after her work, to comfort my poor maid--and all of us as well.

It's like the dew of heaven upon us.
Pity, sir, you didn't see her home." "I should have liked it well enough; but folks might talk, if two young people were seen walking together Sunday evening." "Oh, sir, they know her too well by now, for miles round: and you too, sir, I'll make bold to say." "Well, at least I'll go after her." So Tom went, and kept Grace in sight, till she had crossed the little moor, and disappeared in the wood below.
He had gone about a hundred yards into the wood, when he heard voices and laughter--then a loud shriek.

He hurried forward.