"But anyhow, I have a wish to keep this girl at the house, where I can study her character." "Then keep her, my dear," decided Kenneth.

"I'll set a couple of men to watch the gates, and if she goes out we'll know whom she meets.

The most she can do is to report our movements to Mr.Hopkins, and there's no great harm in that." So the matter was left, for the time; and as if to verify Beth's suspicions Eliza was seen to leave the grounds after dusk and meet Mr.
Hopkins in the lane.

They conversed together a few moments, and then the maid calmly returned and went to her room.
The next day Mr.Hopkins scattered flaring hand-bills over the district which were worded in a way designed to offset any advantage his opponent had gained from the lawn fete of the previous day.

They read: "Hopkins, the Man of the Times, is the Champion of the Signs of the Times.