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To the rush and throb of his engine, he heard over and over the gibing, malicious words of a girl's sore heart: "Mind the doctor doesn't cut you out in your absence!" Obviously then this affair was the common talk of the neighbourhood since news of it had even penetrated to Wardenhurst.
And then one afternoon of brilliant autumn she was shopping with Gracie in Wardenhurst, and came face to face with Ina Guyes. Dick Guyes had gone into the Artillery, and Ina had returned to her father's house. She and Avery had not met since Ina's wedding day more than a year before; but their recognition was mutual and instant.
"I was," he said, after a moment, "though I don't suppose it will interest you very greatly. I had it from Miss Whalley, but I was not told the source of her information. Rumour says that the young man is engaged to Miss Ina Rose of Wardenhurst." "Oh, really?" said Avery.
She had herself just brought him from the station in Piers' little two-seater, and her obvious pleasure at meeting him still hung about her, making her very fair to see. "Piers is so busy just now," she told him. "He sent all sorts of messages. He had to go over to Wardenhurst to see Colonel Rose.
"She went out of the goodness of her heart because Nurse had been up practically all night with Baby and needed a rest and I was obliged to go into Wardenhurst for Mrs. Lorimer. So Jeanie took charge of Bertie and David, and Gracie and Pat went with me." Mr. Lorimer waved a protesting hand. "Pray spare yourself and me all these details, Mrs. Denys!
"It's near a place called Wardenhurst?" pursued Crowther. "Yes," said Piers again. "Ever been there?" "No," Crowther spoke slowly, as though considering his words. "Someone I know lives there, that's all." "Someone you know?" Piers stood still. He looked at Crowther sharply through the dimness. "I don't suppose you have ever met her, lad," said Crowther quietly.
He laughed a reckless laugh, while over her head his eyes challenged his grandfather's. "That's all right, Piccaninny," he said lightly. "Put it in your pocket! And I'll come round with the car to-morrow and run you into Wardenhurst to buy those gloves." But Gracie shook her head. "Gloves don't cost all that," she said practically. "And besides, you won't have any left for yourself.
It might have been an evening in May. He opened the great door with an impatient hand. What on earth was the boy doing? Had he gone love-making to Wardenhurst? A grim smile touched the old man's grim lips as this thought occurred to him.
"We'll soon have 'im out," said the huntsman grimly. She shook her head. Her hands, in the ripped gloves, were clenched and quivering. The huntsman slashed and swore at one of the hounds to relieve his feelings, and looked for inspiration to the growing crowd of riders. One of them, the M.F.H., Colonel Rose of Wardenhurst, pushed his horse forward. He raised his hat with extreme courtliness.
She added that, a spell of frost having put an end to the hunting, life at Wardenhurst had become extremely flat, and she had begun to envy Piers in his exile. Her father was talking of going to Mentone for a few weeks, and wanted her to accompany him. But she was not sure that she would care for it. What did Piers think?