"No!" said Fielding and Green in one breath.
She swept them a deep Court courtesy.
"Thank you, gentlemen! With your leave I will now withdraw."
The squire was at the door. He bowed her out with ceremony, watched her cross the hall, then sharply turned his head. Green was watching her also, but, keen as the twist of a rapier in the hand of a practised fencer, his eyes flashed to meet the squire's.
Fielding smiled grimly. He motioned him forward, gripped him by the arm, and drew him out of the ream. They mounted the shallow oak stairs side by side.
At the top in a tense whisper Fielding spoke. "Don't you be a fool,
Richard! Don't you be a damn' fool!"
Dick's laugh had in it a note that was not of mirth. "All right, sir,
I'll do my best," he said.
It was a drawn battle, and they both knew it. By tacit consent neither referred to the matter again.