That afternoon she told Bobby Trench that she could not marry him. "I'm very sorry," she said. "I do like you, Bobby, and I hope we shall always be friends; but I don't love you the least little bit, and I'm quite sure now that one ought not to marry anyone one doesn't love."
BOOK III
CHAPTER I
THE SQUIRE CONFRONTED
The lilacs in the station-yard at Kencote were blossoming again. Again the train crawled over the sun-dappled meadows, and Joan was on the platform to meet it. This time it was Humphrey who got out of it.
"Hullo!" she said brightly. "They've sent the luggage-cart. I thought you'd like to walk."
He had hardly smiled when she greeted him, and now frowned. "I wanted to see the Governor," he said. "However, it won't take long to walk. Come along."
"How's Susan?" Joan asked as they set out.
"All right," said Humphrey shortly. "She's gone to her people."