Part 28 (1/2)

”Well, I have no doubt you gave hienerous”

Mordaunt thought he had been generous, because if he had persuaded Jim to rule in a way Bernard approved and the latter ot would be taken from the others To some extent, he had been sincere, but he could not claionis up and perhaps he had let this influence him

”It's unfortunate Ji these people is aard, but after all it will cost hi,” said Mordaunt, se him”

”I don't like you when you're ironical,” Mrs Halliday rejoined, and looking up saw that Evelyn had coirl had been there

”You don't look as if you were satisfied with your visit to Langrigg, Lance,” Evelyn said as she sat down

”I' satisfied But you were plucky The e to marry her, if that is what you ht about it,” Mordaunt said bluntly

Evelyn laughed ”Then, it's probably true If he had meant to ht you disapproved

Jie or a drawback?”

”I don't know,” said Evelyn ”It marks the difference between him and us We're fastidious and complex; the Dearhams are siether Strength and sinified You're an artist and know the value of bold, austere line”

”My notion is, Jim is not as simple as he looks”

”That's rather cheap,” Evelyn remarked ”I meant the simplicity of the old Greeks”

”Theirs was cultivated; Jis one does better by instinct than study,” said Evelyn, s else”

Soon afterwards, Mordaunt drove back to Dryholm, where Bernard had built his aenerally stopped at Dryholh the old ined he liked to have him about The rain had stopped, the wet road was save hiht

It was plain that Mrs Halliday meant to make a friend of Jiave its owner some importance Evelyn was curious about Jim; Mordaunt did not know if he attracted her, but the possibility of ruling at Langrigg had no doubt some charm She would toy with the idea

Mordaunt was not in love with Evelyn, but they agreed in es hisShe was his cousin, but cousins did e would consolidate fained their relations would approve In fact, he had iined Mrs Halliday knew his views and he could count on her support Noever, he suspected she had gone over to Jim

For all that, Mordaunt's dissatisfaction was not quite selfish Jie the estate on business lines The felloas going to far pay If he had been a sports else to do, it would have been different; but this was not Ji the marsh annoyed hiical, but he could not conquer it Mordaunt was a naturalist and a wildfowler, and did not think there was in England such a haunt of the Lag and black geese as Langriggto drive the geese away

The car lurched on the grass by the roadside as it took a corner and Mordaunt, roused by the jolt, concentrated on his driving When he reached Dryholm he crossed the lawn and stopped by a wheeled chair, in which Bernard Dearham sat with his foot propped up The old ot thin, and his pinched face was y and so of the fastidiousness that th was broken and he was bothered by gout

He disave Mordaunt a quick glance Bernard's brohite, but his eyes were keen

”Take me to the bench out of the wind,” he said, and looked dohen Mordaunt began to hton a job to roll out thesegravel”