“Yes, thank God!” Dick said.  “I don’t know how I should endure life without her.  She’s all I have.”

The squire’s face contracted a little.  “No one else, Dick?” he said.

Dick glanced up.  “And you, sir,” he amended with a smile.  “I’m afraid I’m rather apt to take you for granted.  I suppose that’s the bond you spoke of.  I haven’t—­you know I haven’t—­the least desire to get away from it.”

“Thank you,” Fielding said, and stifled a sigh.  “Life has been pretty damnable to us both, Dick.  We might have been—­we ought to have been—­much more to each other.”

“There’s no tie more enduring than friendship,” said Dick quickly.  “You and I are friends—­always will be.”

Fielding’s eyes had a misty look.  “The best of friends, Dick lad,” he said.  “But will—­friendship—­give me the right to offer you help without putting up your pride?  I don’t want to order your life for you, but you can’t go on with this village domini business much longer.  You were made for better things.”

“Oh, that!” Dick said, and laughed.  “Yes, I’m going to chuck that—­but not just at once.  Listen, sir!  I have a reason.  I’ll tell you what it is, but not now, not yet.  As to accepting help from you, I’d do that to-morrow if I needed it, but I don’t.  I’ve no pride left where you are concerned.  You’re much too good to me and I’m much too grateful.  Is that quite clear?”

He gave the squire a straight and very friendly look, then wheeled round swiftly at the opening of the door.

They were standing side by side as Vera threw it impatiently wide.  She stood a second on the threshold staring at them.  Then:  “Are you never coming in?” she said.  “I thought—­I thought—­” she stammered suddenly and turned white.  “Edward!” she said, and went back a step as if something had frightened her.

Dick instantly went forward to her.  “Yes, Mrs. Fielding.  We’re coming now,” he said.  “Awfully sorry to have kept you waiting.  We’ve had things to talk about, but we’ve just about done.  You’re coming, aren’t you, sir?  Take my arm, I say!  You look tired.”

He offered and she accepted almost instinctively.  Her hand trembled on his arm as they left the room, and he suddenly and very impulsively laid his own upon it.

It was a protective impulse that moved him, but a moment later he adjusted the position by asking a favour of her—­for the first time in the whole of their acquaintance.

“Mrs. Fielding, please, after to-day—­give me the privilege of numbering myself among your friends!”

She looked at him oddly, seeking to cover her agitation with a quivering assumption of her old arrogance.  But something in his face deterred her.  It was not this man’s way to solicit favours, and somehow, since he had humbled himself to ask, she had it not in her to refuse.

“Very well, Dick,” she said, faintly smiling.  “I grant you that.”