“That is so,” Ledward agreed. “Had Kit wanted the post, it was his, but he did not. However, I think you admitted I did not push him out. When Jasper engaged me Kit was gone.”
Evelyn acknowledged that she could not logically make Ledward accountable. Kit ought to have stayed and claimed all that was his.
“Do you like Jasper?” she resumed.
“I don’t know,” said Ledward in a thoughtful voice. “The old fellow’s just, and although I’m his servant he’s polite. All the same, he’s baffling, and his humor’s grim. Sometimes I feel he’s cynically amused, but I cannot see the joke.”
He stopped, and Evelyn thought he pondered. The moon got bright and the pools in the road sparkled. The moor was gray and silver, and melted into blue; on one side, faint black hills cut the sky. In the distance were two or three dim lights. A covey of grouse flew noisily across the headlamp’s beam. When they vanished all was quiet but for a little beck in the heather. The tinkling splash got louder, and Evelyn saw the road went down-hill.
“In the North evenings like this are not numerous,” Ledward remarked. “When the moon’s on the heather and the sky is serene, the moor has some charm.”
“When all you hear is the wind and the sheep, serenity gets monotonous,” Evelyn rejoined. “In winter Netherdale’s deadly quiet, and winter is not short. I like crowds and lights and noise, and sometimes I feel the dale’s a prison. Perhaps it explains my agreeing to our excursion.”
“Hadriansford is not remarkably noisy. Then you have some social functions; perhaps festivities is not the word. For example, Mrs. Holroyd gives a ball. I suppose you’re going?”
“Oh, yes,” said Evelyn. “A ball for us is an important event. We get two a year, and as soon as the night is fixed one begins to calculate. You see, to disguise a modern frock is hard, and to bring an old one up-to-date is almost impossible. Well, one goes, and when one comes back one feels like Cinderella; only the prince does not arrive.”
“The prince is occupied in Canada! Well, Kit is something of a prince. Anyhow, we have some grounds to think him royally generous, and he’s royally extravagant.”