“No,” she said.  “Though you have met him, I didn’t think you knew him well.”

“I believe it’s chiefly a business visit.  Stephen, you know, has some reputation as a commercial lawyer, and Bland couldn’t arrange to see him in town.  Anyway, he should be here soon.”

Bland arrived half an hour later, but was unable to do more than shake hands with Sylvia before West took him away to another room.  It was some time before they returned; and then West kept the party engaged in general conversation until it broke up.

“I’ll walk down the road with you,” he said to Mrs. Lansing, and afterward turned to Bland.  “How are you going to get back?”

Bland said that the man who had driven him from the station was waiting in the neighboring village, and when they left the house he walked on with Sylvia, leaving Mrs. Lansing and West to follow.  It was a clear night, with a chill of frost in the air.  A bright half-moon hung above the shadowy hills, and the higher boughs of the bare trees cut in sharp tracery against the sky.  Dead leaves lay thick upon the road and here and there a belt of mist trailed across a meadow.  Sylvia, however, did not respond when her companion said something about the charm of the walk.

“Why didn’t you send me word you were coming?” she asked.

“I didn’t know until this morning, when I got a note from West, and I must be back in time for tomorrow’s parade.  Besides, you told me at the junction that I was not to be allowed to meet you again for some time.”

Sylvia smiled at him.

“Haven’t you found out that you needn’t take everything I say too literally?”

Bland stopped, pressing the hand on his arm.

“Does that apply to all you said on the evening when we sat outside the inn?”

“No,” answered Sylvia firmly.  “It does not; please understand that.  I must stick to what I told you then.”  She paused, and they heard the soft fall of approaching feet before she resumed with a laugh:  “Go on, if you don’t want the others to think we are waiting for them.”

Bland obeyed, a little soothed, though he saw she was not yet ready to allow a renewal of his pleading.  Sylvia had obviously meant that she wished to be left alone with him.

“Why did you call on Stephen West?” she asked, presently.

“I’d meant to tell you.  But, first of all, is Lansing still connected with the rubber company?  West didn’t seem very well informed upon the point.”

“Neither am I,” replied Sylvia thoughtfully.  “I only know he hasn’t the large interest in it that he had.”

“Then I’ll have to explain, because I don’t know what to do.  Lansing gave me a tip to buy some shares, and when some friends said I’d got a good thing, I went to him again.  I must say he was pretty guarded, but I got a hint and acted on it, with the result that I have dropped a good deal of money.  This,” he added deprecatingly, “is not the kind of thing I should talk to you about, but I was told that Lansing couldn’t receive any callers, and you’ll see why you should know.”