Ann will like it." "Thank you," returned Rivers, "I too like it." John went away to look at the ruin left by the fire, and the Squire said to his friend, "As I am absent in the mornings at the mills, you may keep school here, Rivers," and it was so settled.
Before going out Penhallow went to his wife's little room on the farther side of the hall.

He had no desire to hide his conclusions from her.

She saw how grave he looked.

"What is it, James ?" she asked, looking up from her desk.
"I am as sure as a man can be that Peter Lamb set fire to the parsonage.
He has always been revengeful and he owed our friend, the Rector, a grudge.

I have no direct evidence of his guilt, and what am I to do?
You know why I have always stood by him.