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This she had consented to do, after discovering that Godfrey Radmore had gone up to London for the day. And then, during their walk, Jack had suddenly made her a pompous offer of marriage! No wonder she smiled mischievously to herself, when pacing slowly up and down the path between a row of espaliered apple trees. She told herself that in a sense it had been her fault.

There had followed a lively scrap, leaving them both in a bad mood; but at last it was arranged that Godfrey, Betty and Timmy should motor to Epsom with the cat and her kittens after luncheon. The morning wore itself slowly away. Only two of the younger people were entirely happy Betty, doing her usual work, and Godfrey Radmore.

Who could have told her this particular bit of gossip? "I wonder," went on the elder lady reflectively, "what made Mrs. Crofton come to Beechfield, of all places in the world. Somehow she doesn't look the sort of woman who would care for a country life." "Godfrey Radmore first told her of Beechfield," said Betty, and in spite of herself, she felt the colour rise again hotly to her cheeks.

Then she was awakened from this dream of bliss by Radmore's next words: "My godson's going to write you a letter of apology," he said. And then, to her chagrin, he took his hand away; it was as though Timmy's malign influence had fallen between them. His very tone changed; it was no longer tender, solicitous only kindly. "Mr. Radmore, I want to tell you something. I'm horribly afraid of Timmy!"

The door which gave on to the stairs which led from the scullery to the upper floor opened, and Godfrey Radmore stepped down. "Am I the fool?" he asked pleasantly. Janet answered, smiling: "No, no; you're anything but that. I was only telling Betty that Dolly and Mr. Barton are engaged at last." She turned to Betty. "Of course, he's coming to supper to-night.

They had been such pals in spite of the four years' difference between them. Radmore and Timmy were now in the kind of annex or wing which had been added some fifty years after the original mansion had been built. The lower floor of this annex consisted of one big room which, even in the days of Radmore's first acquaintance with the Tosswills, was only used in warm weather.

Timmy shot out of the room and so through the front door, and Radmore got up too. "I'm afraid we ought to be going," he said. His white-clad hostess came up close to him: "It's so good of you to have come to see me so soon," she murmured. "Though I do like Beechfield, and the people here are awfully kind, I feel very forlorn, Mr. Radmore. Seeing you has cheered me up very much.

He got up. "Jack certainly goes to see her very often," he said, "but I don't think that's her fault. Forgive me for saying so, Miss Pendarth, but you know what village gossip is?" "I'm afraid that she's giving Jack a great deal of deliberate encouragement. Even her servants believe that he regards himself as engaged to her." "What absolute nonsense!" exclaimed Radmore vigorously.

She knew the knock and ring of each of her neighbours, and this was none of them. Her maid hurried out of the kitchen, and a moment later she heard a man's voice exclaim: "Will you kindly give this note to Miss Pendarth? I will return for the answer in about an hour." Miss Pendarth knew the voice, and, stepping out of her morning room, she called out: "Come in just for a few minutes, Mr. Radmore."

"No, I'd rather you didn't do that if you don't mind," and then, seeing his look of deep disappointment, she added, "Perhaps you will walk back with me after dinner?" "Of course I will, but I'm afraid Radmore or one of the girls will want to come too."