"Grant ye that," the farmer responded. "Grant ye
that! Yer bold enough, young gentleman — comes of lie
blood that should be I If y' had only ha' spoke trewthi —
I believe yer father — ^believe every word he said. I do
wish I could ha' said as much for Sir Austin's son and
heir."

"What I" cried Bichard, with an astonishment hardly
to be feigned, **you have seen my father?"

But Farmer Blaize had now such a scent for lies that
he could detect them where they did not exist, and mum-
bled gruffly,

"Ay, we knows all about that I"

The boy's 'perplexity saved him from being irritated.
Who could have told his father? An old fear of his
father came upon him, and a t^uch of an old inclination
to revolt.
60 THE ORDEAL OF RICHARD FEVEREL

**My father knows of this?" said he, very loudly, and
staring, as he spoke, right through the farmer. ^'Who has
played me false? Who would betray me to him? It was
Austin I No one knew it but Austin. Yes, and it was
Austin who persuaded me to come here and submit to
these indignities. Why couldn't he be open with me? I
shall never trust him again I"

"And why not you with me, young gentleman ?" said the
farmer. "I sh'd trust you if ye had."

Richard did not see the analogy. He bowed stiffly and
bade him good afternoon.
