Head in air, he passed in front of Audrey and came to the ditch. There was a stone jar. . . .
The stranger was about to drink, when Miss de Lisle lifted up her voice.
“Are you a farmer?” she said.
The other turned.
Then he lowered his glass and took off his hat.
“Not yet,” he said. “But I live in hopes. At present I’m half a land-agent—and your servant, of course. I became the latter about five seconds ago.”
Audrey smiled very charmingly.
“Thank you very much,” she said. “And now please put on your hat and drink your beer.”
“Your very good health,” said the stranger, and emptied his glass. “If I had another tumbler I’d offer you some. And now—must it be a farmer? Or can half a land-agent help?”
“I want a horse,” said Audrey. “It sounds like a fairy-tale, but that’s as it should be. This corner of England is full of nursery rhymes.”