“You are terribly obstinate,” she sighed. “You will come on Thursday?”
“Without fail,” he promised.
The dogs rose up from all sides as he passed out. He lingered for a moment to talk to the rather sulky but not unpleasant-looking girl, who was cutting some roses in the strip of front garden.
“Madame looks well,” he observed. “I hope that you are still content with the neighbourhood, Miss Besant?”
“I like it very much,” she assured him.
“If the doctor decides to permit Madame’s visit to the Hall next week,” he added, “we shall have, I hope, the pleasure of seeing you there.”
She thanked him a little stiffly. Sir Bertram whistled to his dogs, gazed for a moment at the high red brick wall opposite, which encircled the domain of the Great House, and, with a little bow of farewell, turned towards the village.
CHAPTER V
That evening Endacott, in response to an urgent summons, rose somewhat reluctantly from his chair under the cedar tree, finished his coffee and offered a grudging explanation of his departure.
“Your aunt has sent in to say that she wishes to see me particularly,” he confided to Claire. “Just the hour of the day when I like to rest!”