['I am very glad to know you, Mrs. Mannering.']
['I must have a few words with you before I go back,' he said, nonchalantly.]
[She leaned over him, one hand on the back of his chair.]
[Sir Leslie never quite forgot her gesture as she motioned him towards the door.]
[She was the only beautiful woman who sat alone and companionless.]
['You will find yourself repaid for this, Sir Leslie,' she murmured.]
[Mannering rose to play his shot.]
[She was already on her way up the grey stone steps.]
![['I am very glad to know you, Mrs. Mannering.']](#6389848053826541974_ill1_th.jpg.id-6127579946471970069.wrap-0.html.html){kind=link}
![['I must have a few words with you before I go back,' he said, nonchalantly.]](#6389848053826541974_ill2_th.jpg.id-1528344269059834276.wrap-0.html.html){kind=link}
![[She leaned over him, one hand on the back of his chair.]](#6389848053826541974_ill3_th.jpg.id-9068907795678676979.wrap-0.html.html){kind=link}
![[Sir Leslie never quite forgot her gesture as she motioned him towards the door.]](#6389848053826541974_ill4_th.jpg.id-8474689104017507765.wrap-0.html.html){kind=link}
![[She was the only beautiful woman who sat alone and companionless.]](#6389848053826541974_ill5_th.jpg.id-1509099393928645188.wrap-0.html.html){kind=link}
![['You will find yourself repaid for this, Sir Leslie,' she murmured.]](#6389848053826541974_ill6_th.jpg.id-811374828550132753.wrap-0.html.html){kind=link}
![[Mannering rose to play his shot.]](#6389848053826541974_ill7_th.jpg.id-4089468724082021595.wrap-0.html.html){kind=link}
![[She was already on her way up the grey stone steps.]](#6389848053826541974_ill8_th.jpg.id-7285230532070665380.wrap-0.html.html){kind=link}
A LOST LEADER
BOOK I
CHAPTER I
RECONSTRUCTION
The two men stood upon the top of a bank bordering the rough road which led to the sea. They were listening to the lark, which had risen fluttering from their feet a moment or so ago, and was circling now above their heads. Mannering, with a quiet smile, pointed upwards.
"There, my friend!" he exclaimed. "You can listen now to arguments more eloquent than any which I could ever frame. That little creature is singing the true, uncorrupted song of life. He sings of the sunshine, the buoyant air; the pure and simple joy of existence is beating in his little heart. The things which lie behind the hills will never sadden him. His kingdom is here, and he is content."
Borrowdean's smile was a little cynical. He was essentially of that order of men who are dwellers in cities, and even the sting of the salt breeze blowing across the marshes—marshes riven everywhere with long arms of the sea—could bring no colour to his pale cheeks.