"Who is that, watching our mills?" said Mrs. Halifax, hastily.
I told her all I had seen of the person.
"A Papist, most likely—I mean a Catholic." (John objected to the opprobrious word "Papist.") "Mrs. Tod says there are a good many hidden hereabouts. They used to find shelter at Luxmore."
And that name set both our thoughts anxiously wandering; so that not until we reached the foot of the hill did I notice that the person had followed us almost to the mill-gates.
In his empty mill, standing beside one of its silenced looms, we found the master. He was very much dejected—Ursula touched his arm before he even saw her.
"Well, love—you know what has happened?"
"Yes, John. But never mind."
"I would not—except for my poor people."
"What do you intend doing? That which you have wished to do all the year?"
"Our wishes come as a cross to us sometimes," he said, rather bitterly. "It is the only thing I can do. The water-power being so greatly lessened, I must either stop the mills, or work them by steam."