‘The strong-minded female,’ however, was not, it seemed, of the talkative kind.  She remained quite silent while Pamela and Sir Henry exchanged some family gossip, with her ungloved hand caressing the nose of the collie, who was pressing against her with intrusive friendliness.  But her easy self-possession as contrasted with Pamela’s nervousness was all the time making an impression on Sir Henry, as was also the fact of her general good looks.  Not a beauty—­not at all; but, as the Rector had said, ‘striking.’

As for Pamela, what was the matter with the child?  Until Beryl’s name was mentioned, there was not a smile to be got out of her.  And it was a very fleeting one when it came.  Desmond’s name fared a little better.  At that the girl did at last raise her beautiful eyes, which till then she had hardly allowed to be seen, and there was a ray in them.

‘He’s here on leave,’ she said; ’a few days.  He’s just got his Commission and been accepted for the artillery.  He goes into camp next week.  He thinks he’ll be out by January.’

‘We must certainly manage to see him before he goes,’ said Sir Henry heartily.  Then turning to Miss Bremerton with the slightly over-emphatic civility of a man who prides himself on his manners in all contingencies, he asked her if she was already acquainted with the Mannering neighbourhood.

Miss Bremerton replied that it was quite unknown to her.  ’You’ll admire our trees,’ said Sir Henry.  ‘They’re very fine.’

‘Are they?’ said the lady rather absently, giving a perfunctory glance to the woods sloping away on her right towards a little stream winding in the hollow.  Sir Henry felt a slight annoyance.  He was a good fellow, and no more touchy as to personal dignity than the majority of men of his age and class.  But he was accustomed to be treated with a certain deference, and in Miss Bremerton’s manner there was none whatever.

’Well, good-bye, Pamela.  I mustn’t miss your father.  When are you coming over to see Beryl?’

‘How am I to get there?’ said the girl with a sudden laugh.

‘Oh, I see, you’ve got no petrol allowance?’

‘How should we?  Nobody’s doing any war work here.’

There was an odd note in the speaker’s voice.

‘Why don’t you join Beryl in her canteen work?’ said Sir Henry abruptly.

‘I don’t know.’

’She wants help badly.  She passes your gate on her way to Fallerton.  She could pick you up, and bring you back.’

‘Yes,’ said Pamela.  There was a pause.

‘Well, good-bye, dear,’ said Sir Henry again, and with a ceremonious bow to Pamela’s companion, he rode on—­meditating on many things.

* * * * *

‘The Squire’s in, Sir Henry, but—­well, he’s very busy.’

’Never mind, Forest.  I must see him.  Can you find some one to take my horse round?’

The grey-haired butler looked perplexed.