“I like unconventional people best,” said Juliet.

He dropped down on the seat.  “Oh, do you?  Then I needn’t apologize any further.  You’ve been here about a week, haven’t you?”

“Yes,” said Juliet.

His look dwelt upon the simple linen dress she wore.  “You came from London?”

“Yes,” she said again.

He began to frown and to pull restlessly at the lash of his riding-whip.  “Do you think me impertinent for asking you questions?” he said.

“Not so far,” said Juliet.

He uttered a brief laugh.  “You’re cautious.  Listen, Miss Moore!  I don’t care a—­I mean, it’s nothing whatever to me where you’ve come from or why.  What I really came to ask is—­do you want a job?”

Juliet stiffened a little involuntarily.  “What sort of a job?” she said.

His fingers tugged more and more vigorously at the leather.  She realized quite suddenly that he was embarrassed, and at once her own embarrassment passed.

“Have you come to offer me a job?” she said.  “How kind of you to think of it!”

“You don’t know what it is yet,” said Fielding, biting uncomfortably at his black moustache.  “It may not appeal to you.  Quite probably it won’t.  You’ve been a companion before—­so Green tells me.”

“Oh!” Juliet’s straight brows gathered slightly.  “Did Mr. Green tell you I was wanting a job?”

“No, he didn’t.  Green sticks to his own business and nothing will turn him from it.”  The squire suddenly lashed with his whip at the grass in front of him, causing Columbus to jump violently and turn a resentful eye upon him.  “I’ll tell you what passed if you want to know.”

“Thank you,” said Juliet simply.

She leaned forward after a moment and pulled Columbus to her side; fondling his pricked ears reassuringly.

“It was on Sunday,” said Fielding.  “My wife saw you in church.  She took rather a fancy to you.  I hope you don’t object?”

“Why should I?” said Juliet.

“Exactly.  Why should you?  Well, after Green’s introduction, when you had gone, I asked him if he knew anything about you.  He said he had only made your acquaintance the day before, that you had told him that you had held the post of companion to someone, he didn’t say who.  And I wondered if possibly you might feel inclined to see how you got on with my wife in that capacity.  She is not strong.  She wants a companion.”

Juliet’s grey eyes gazed steadily before her as she listened.  The evening light shone on her brown head, showing streaks of gold here and there.  Her attitude was one of grave attention.

As he ended, she turned towards him, still caressing the dog at her feet.

“Wouldn’t it be better,” she said, “if Mrs. Fielding knew me before offering me such a post?”

The squire smiled at her abruptly.  “No, I don’t think so.  It wouldn’t be worth while unless you mean to consider it.”