Part 26 (1/2)

”Do you know, Miss Calmour, Reggie is the most provoking child. It's simply impossible to tease him. I'm always trying, and you've just got a sample of how I succeed. Is he the same at Hillside, Gerard?”

”Can't tell tales out of school.”

Then Yvonne retorted, and the banter went on fast and furious, but always good-tempered, and sometimes really humorous, until it finally merged into plans for fis.h.i.+ng on the morrow.

”They are threatening to take us all down to the west park presently, Miss Calmour,” said Wagram soon after lunch. ”Do you feel up to that amount of exertion?”

Delia replied that she would have been delighted, only it was time to think of getting back.

”Of getting back?” repeated Wagram. ”Are you obliged to? Because if not, won't you stay and play for us again this evening? It would be a great help.”

”Yes; do stay, Miss Calmour,” urged Yvonne, cordially impulsive.

”There will be a bright moon to ride back by, and I can offer you my escort.”

”Can I go too, pater?” said Gerard, eagerly scenting the fun of a moonlight bicycle ride.

”Certainly. You wouldn't leave your venerated dad to return over three miles of lonely road unprotected, would you?”

”Then I shall be very pleased to stay,” answered the girl, her whole face lighting up. Days such as this const.i.tuted to her everything that was worth living for, and now there was more of it before her than behind.

The old Squire had withdrawn, laughingly explaining that he could not do without his forty winks on a hot Sunday afternoon. The workings of Fate, or Providence, are indeed strange. Some such working it must have been that moved Haldane to declare that he too felt drowsy, and it was much too hot for exercise. In a word, he resisted all persuasion to join in the walk; had he yielded the subsequent events of this our history might have turned out very differently.

They reached the paddock, and the great sable antelope, which was inclined to be tame, condescended to stalk up in a lordly manner and be fed with some crusts they had brought for the purpose. The gnus, however, kept their distance away in the middle, whisking their tails, and prancing, and shaking their fierce-looking heads. Suddenly Wagram, chancing to look round, became aware of the propinquity of a stranger.

He was a little distance off along the fence, and with the aid of a bough had managed to climb up, and was holding on, watching the animals.

”That's a cool customer,” he said after watching him for a few minutes.

”I must go and talk to him.”

”Going to turn him away, pater?” asked Gerard.

”No, I won't do that; but I'll drop him a friendly hint that he mustn't make this the scene of his daily walks. You remain here.”

The stranger was not in the least confused or apologetic as Wagram accosted him. The latter recognised with some interest the weather-beaten, white-bearded face of the man who had been pointed out to him as Develin Hunt.

”Good specimens these,” he said approvingly. ”I've shot many of them, so I ought to know.”

”Yes. They'd be dangerous if they weren't shut in,” said Wagram.

”Very likely. Wild animals enclosed generally do get that way.”

”Now you're here you're welcome to look at them,” said Wagram pleasantly, ”but I thought I'd just mention that this is private ground.”

The man dropped from his perch with a cat-like nimbleness, rather noticeable in one of his apparent years.

”Meaning I'm trespa.s.sing?” he said shortly.

”That's the word,” laughed Wagram. ”But, as I said before, as you are here pray see all you came to see; I have no wish that you should hurry away. Good-afternoon.”

The stranger stood gazing after him.