Owain went with Gwen along the path leading out of the churchyard through emerald-hued meadows towards Parley Wood. It was the very same path which he had trodden on that eventful night, and he shivered slightly at the recollection. Fortunately Gwen was too much taken up with her own thoughts to notice this sign of discomfort, which was lucky, since it would have necessitated an untrue explanation. And after that one uncontrollable tremor, Hench braced himself to outward calmness, and trod with apparent carelessness the bye-way which had previously conducted him towards such dire trouble. He was quite glad when the girl branched off along another path skirting the wood. This took them round the corner of the trees and brought them into a narrow lane, where the trees met overhead to shut out the sky. The pair moved through a quiet green twilight with a tall hedge on one side and a mouldering red brick wall on the other.
"This runs round the park," said Gwen, tapping the mellow bricks, "and by following it we come to the gates."
"Is it a large park?" asked Hench, curious to ascertain the extent of his domain.
"Not very large, but very beautiful. So is the house." Gwen heaved a sigh. "I was very, very sorry to leave the Grange, as you may guess."
"Perhaps you will go back to it," suggested Owain, feeling desperately anxious to then and there lay the same at her feet.
"No!" Gwen flushed angrily. "My cousin is sure to take possession soon, and then I can never visit my old home."
"Why not?" Owain averted his face. "Your cousin may be a good sort of chap."
"I don't see how he can be with such a father as he had," retorted Gwen tartly.
Hench was nettled, as he thought that this was unfair. "After all, your father was no angel," he said, also tartly. "Yet look at--you."
"If you are going to pay silly compliments, I shall go back," said the girl sharply. "We are here on business, remember."