“So am I,—­in a way,—­as you are.  My heart hurts me to think of him.  He’ll never forgive me.”

“Me, you mean.  Well, ‘t is man to man, an’ I ban’t feared of nothing on two legs.  You just tell ’em that ’t was to be, that you never gived up lovin’ me, but was forced into lyin’ and such-like by the cruel way they pushed ’e.  Shaw ’em the copy of the paper if they doan’t b’lieve the ring.  An’ when Miller lifts up his voice to cuss me, tell un quiet that I knawed what must come of it, and be gone straight to Exeter Gaol to save un all further trouble.  He’ll see then I’m a thinking, calculating man, though young in years.”

Phoebe was now reduced to sighs and dry sobs.  Will sat by her a little longer, patted her hands and spoke cheerfully.  Then the train departed and he jumped from it as it moved and ran along the platform with a last earnest injunction.

“See mother first moment you can an’ explain how ’t is.  Mother’ll understand, for faither did similar identical, though he wasn’t put in clink for it.”

He waved his hand and Phoebe passed homewards.  Then the fire died out of his eyes and he sighed and turned.  But no shadow of weakness manifested itself in his manner.  His jaw hardened, he smote his leg with his stick, and, ascertaining the time of the next train to Exeter, went back to bid Mr. Ford farewell before setting about his business.

Will told his uncle nothing concerning the contemplated action; and such silence was unfortunate, for had he spoken the old man’s knowledge must have modified his fantastic design.  Knowing that Will came mysteriously from regular employment which he declined to discuss, and assuming that he now designed returning to it, Mr. Ford troubled no more about him.  So his nephew thanked the Registrar right heartily for all the goodness he had displayed in helping two people through the great crisis of their lives, and went on his way.  His worldly possessions were represented by a new suit of blue serge which he wore, and a few trifles in a small carpet-bag.

It was the past rather than the present or future which troubled Will on his journey to Exeter; and the secret of the last six months, whatever that might be, lay heavier on his mind than the ordeal immediately ahead of him.  In this coming achievement he saw no shame; it was merely part payment for an action lawless but necessary.  He prided himself always on a great spirit of justice, and justice demanded that henceforth he must consider the family into which he had thus unceremoniously introduced himself.  To no man in the wide world did he feel more kindly disposed than to Miller Lyddon; and his purpose was now to save his father-in-law all the annoyance possible.