“Was that Askew?” he inquired when he turned and went on with her.

Grace said it was and he gave her a careless look.

“I heard he had come back.  Might have been better if he had stayed away.  A fellow like that is rather disturbing.”

“I don’t think he could do much harm, when you and Hayes are on your guard,” Grace rejoined.

“That is so,” Thorn agreed and she could not tell if he knew she had meant to be ironical.  “Anyhow, I don’t suppose he wants to do much harm; I was thinking about his example.”

“Is it a dangerous example to improve one’s land?  I thought you advocated scientific farming?”

“So I do.  I don’t mean that, although I don’t know if Askew’s farming is scientific or not.  One can’t judge yet.  His independence and habit of taking his own line might be dangerous.”

“Mr. Askew’s independence is justified.  Ashness is his.”

“Yes,” said Thorn thoughtfully, “that’s the trouble.  If he was a farming tenant, things would be easier.”

Grace laughed.  “You are delightfully naive!  I’m afraid you’ll have to leave Mr. Askew alone, but I don’t expect he’ll do anything alarming.  I think you know he is a friend of mine.”

“I knew he was, before he went abroad.  If you have renewed the friendship, it means you’re satisfied about him and perhaps we needn’t be disturbed.  Your judgment is generally sound.”

“Thank you,” said Grace.  “I have relations who would not agree!  But why do you dislike people who take their own line?”

“It would be awkward if one’s tenants did so; but perhaps my feeling springs from envy.  The rest of us can’t do what we want.  You can’t, for example!”

Grace gave him a keen glance, and then laughed.  “On the whole, that is true.  We have a number of rules at Tarnside, but one now and then gets some satisfaction from breaking them.”

“Rebellion doesn’t pay,” Thorn rejoined with a touch of dry humor.  “You are young and adventurous, but you’ll find it prudent, so to speak, to accept your environment and submit.  Some people call submission duty, but that’s really cant; they mean it saves them trouble.  Anyhow, you cannot make your own code; when you’re born at a place like Tarnside, it’s made for you.”

“Ah!” said Grace, “I wonder—­Well, you know I am sometimes rash.”

Then she was careful to talk about something else, for she thought Alan had not philosophized without an object and it was not difficult to see where his hints led.  When they reached the lodge, she firmly sent him away, although he looked as if he wanted to come to the house.

CHAPTER II

A DANGEROUS TALENT