| CHAP. | PAGE | |
| XIX. | SUGGESTIONS OF EVIL | [7] |
| XX. | A FACE IN THE WATER | [19] |
| XXI. | AN OFFER | [28] |
| XXII. | A RACE FOR LIFE | [37] |
| XXIII. | BORROWING | [45] |
| XXIV. | SHAVINGS | [55] |
| XXV. | BORROWING AGAIN | [64] |
| XXVI. | SILVER PENINKS | [73] |
| XXVII. | TROUBLE | [83] |
| XXVIII. | ALTERNATIVES | [92] |
| XXIX. | A FRIEND GAINED | [104] |
| XXX. | UNDER THE MULBERRY TREE | [111] |
| XXXI. | ON MISCHIEF BENT | [122] |
| XXXII. | JASON IN THE WAY | [132] |
| XXXIII. | ONE CRIME LEADS TO ANOTHER | [140] |
| XXXIV. | AND YET ANOTHER | [149] |
| XXXV. | UNSUCCESSFUL | [159] |
| XXXVI. | ALL IN VAIN | [168] |
KITTY ALONE
CHAPTER XIX
SUGGESTIONS OF EVIL
The crowd in the market-place and in the streets of Ashburton began to thin as the afternoon crept on. In vain did the showmen blow their trumpets, ring their bells, and invite to their entertainments. Those who had come to the fair had spent their loose cash. The proprietors of the stalls offered their wares at reduced prices, but found few purchasers. Young men who had been hired by the farmers swaggered about singing or shouting, some tipsy, others merely on the road to tipsiness. The ostlers in the inns were harnessing horses to the traps, market carts, gigs, dog-carts, that had brought in the farmers and their wives. Empty waggons were departing. The roads were full of streams of people flowing homeward to the surrounding villages.
Pasco Pepperill started with the schoolmaster. He had surrendered Kate to her father. The reins were in his hand, and he had whipped the cob, when he saw Coaker, the man from whom he had bought the wool, coming towards him.
The blood rushed into Pepperill’s face.
“How d’ye do?” asked the farmer. “Going home?”
“I be,” answered Pasco, with constrained anger.