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[] "I'm afraid you'll find it very quiet down here, Hastings."

[] "My dear fellow, that's just what I want."

[] "Oh, it's pleasant enough if you want to lead the idle life. I drill with the volunteers twice a week, and lend a hand at the farms. My wife works regularly 'on the land'. She is up at five every morning to milk, and keeps at it steadily until lunchtime. It's a jolly good life taking it all round-if it weren't for that fellow Alfred Inglethorp!" He checked the car suddenly, and glanced at his watch. "I wonder if we've time to pick up Cynthia. No, she'll have started from the hospital by now."

[] "Cynthia! That's not your wife?"

[] "No, Cynthia is a protegee of my mother's, the daughter of an old schoolfellow of hers, who married a rascally solicitor. He came a cropper, and the girl was left an orphan and penniless. My mother came to the rescue, and Cynthia has been with us nearly two years now. She works in the Red Cross Hospital at Tadminster, seven miles away."

[] As he spoke the last words, we drew up in front of the fine old house. A lady in a stout tweed skirt, who was bending over a flower bed, straightened herself at our approach.

[] "Hullo, Evie, here's our wounded hero! Mr. Hastings-Miss Howard."

[] Miss Howard shook hands with a hearty, almost painful, grip. I had an impression of very blue eyes in a sunburnt face. She was a pleasant-looking woman of about forty, with a deep voice, almost manly in its stentorian tones, and had a large sensible square body, with feet to match-these last encased in good thick boots. Her conversation, I soon found, was couched in the telegraphic style.

[] "Weeds grow like house afire. Can't keep even with 'em. Shall press you in. Better be careful."

[] "I'm sure I shall be only too delighted to make myself useful," I responded.

[] "Don't say it. Never does. Wish you hadn't later."

[] "You're a cynic, Evie," said John, laughing. "Where's tea to-day-inside or out?"

[] "Out. Too fine a day to be cooped up in the house."

[] "Come on then, you've done enough gardening for to-day. 'The labourer is worthy of his hire', you know. Come and be refreshed."

[] "Well," said Miss Howard, drawing off her gardening gloves, "I'm inclined to agree with you."

She led the way round the house to where tea was spread under the shade of a large sycamore.

[] A figure rose from one of the basket chairs, and came a few steps to meet us.

[] "My wife, Hastings," said John.

[] I shall never forget my first sight of Mary Cavendish. Her tall, slender form, outlined against the bright light; the vivid sense of slumbering fire that seemed to find expression only in those wonderful tawny eyes of hers, remarkable eyes, different from any other woman's that I have ever known; the intense power of stillness she possessed, which nevertheless conveyed the impression of a wild untamed spirit in an exquisitely civilised body-all these things are burnt into my memory. I shall never forget them.