"No reason at all," she answered.
"And yet," he said, "your advice would be valuable, if you will not tell."
"I! I tell?" she asked. "You do not know me."
"Then," he said, "I came to look at land here."
"To look at land here?" she repeated, questioning. "Can you buy here?"
"There is land," he said. "The price would be doubled if it were known I am after it. I have the refusal of it, through agents."
"Where does it lie?" she asked.
"Farther up the road."
"You must not be seen going to it," she declared. "People would take alarm——" She stopped, embarrassed.
"I do not mind," he said, and yet she felt his bitterness. "I am not considered a good neighbour."