and nearer to the great house the starlings and jackdaws shot down in a great hurry from the holes in old trees where they had their nests, and many of them came rushing from their headquarters in the ruined tower by the stream to waddle about the open lawns in their ungainly fashion, vain because they were not like swallows, but could really walk when they chose, though they did it rather badly.  And where the woods ended they were lined with rhododendrons, and lilacs, and laburnum.  There are even bigger parks in England than Craythew, but there is none more beautiful, none richer in all sweet and good things that live, none more musical with song of birds, not one that more deeply breathes the world’s oldest poetry.

Lady Maud went out on foot that afternoon and met Van Torp in the drive, half a mile from the house.  He came in his motor car with Miss More and Ida, who was to go back after tea.  It was by no means the first time that they had been at Craythew; the little girl loved nature, and understood by intuition much that would have escaped a normal child.  It was her greatest delight to come over in the motor and spend two or three hours in the park, and when none of the family were in the country she was always free to come and go, with Miss More, as she pleased.

Lady Maud kissed her kindly and shook hands with her teacher before the car went on to leave Mr. Van Torp’s things at the house.  Then the two walked slowly along the road, and neither spoke for some time, nor looked at the other, but both kept their eyes on the ground before them, as if expecting something.

Mr. Van Torp’s hands were in his pockets, his soft straw hat was pushed rather far back on his sandy head, and as he walked he breathed an American tune between his teeth, raising one side of his upper lip to let the faint sound pass freely without turning itself into a real whistle.  It is rather a Yankee trick, and is particularly offensive to some people, but Lady Maud did not mind it at all, though she heard it distinctly.  It always meant that Mr. Van Torp was in deep thought, and she guessed that, just then, he was thinking more about her than of himself.  In his pocket he held in his right hand a small envelope which he meant to bring out presently and give to her, where nobody would be likely to see them.

Presently, when the motor had turned to the left, far up the long drive, he raised his eyes and looked about him.  He had the sight of a man who has lived in the wilderness, and not only sees, but knows how to see, which is a very different thing.  Having satisfied himself, he withdrew the envelope and held it out to his companion.

‘I thought you might just as well have some more money,’ he said, ’so I brought you some.  I may want to sail any minute.  I don’t know.  Yes, you’d better take it.’

Lady Maud had looked up quickly and had hesitated to receive the envelope, but when he finished speaking she took it quickly and slipped it into the opening of her long glove, pushing it down till it lay in the palm of her hand.  She fastened the buttons before she spoke.