She lifted her head and gazed around. For minutes her closed eyeballs had been pressed down upon her arms, and the sunlight played tricks with her vision. Strange hues of scarlet and violet danced on the sky and around the fringes of the elms.
But he was there! Yes, beyond all doubting it was he. . . .
He had ridden in through the gateway on his favourite Bayard, and with a led horse at his side. He was calling, in that easy masterful voice of his, for one of the Cordery lads to take the pair to stable. Lemuel came running.
In the act of dismounting he caught sight of her and paused to lift his hat. But before dismissing the horses to stable he looked them over, as a good master should.
He was coming towards her. . . . Three paces away he halted, and his smile changed to a frown.
"You are in trouble?"
"It has passed. I am happy now; and you are welcome, my lord."
She gave him her hand. He detained it.
"Who has annoyed you? Those women?"
She shook her head. "You might make a better guess, for you must have met him on the way. Mr. Silk was here a while ago."