dreamy and absurd when I tell fortunes. Anyway, as I said before, you
will be greatly beloved. Indeed, unless your hand is very untruthful,
which I'm sure it never could be, you are beloved now, far more than
you can possibly guess."

Betty caught at her flippancy but it evaded her, and all she found to
say was, "Oh," and her eyes fell.

There was a silence. Vernon still held her hand, but he was no longer
looking at it.

A black figure darkened the daylight.

The two on the plough started up--started apart. Nothing more was
wanted to convince the Rector of all that he least wished to believe.

"Go home, Lizzie," he said, "go to your room," and to her his face
looked the face of a fiend. It is hard to control the muscles under a
sudden emotion compounded of sorrow, sympathy and an immeasurable
pity. "Go to your room and stay there till I send for you."

Betty went, like a beaten dog.

The Rector turned to the young man.

"Now, Sir," he said.