The man looked a little surprised. This was hardly the greeting he had expected, after having been promised a quiet half-hour with Sylvia; but, looking round, he saw the skirt of Ethel's dress and understood. Had it been George she wished to warn, she would have used different means; but Bland, she was thankful, was not hypercritical.
"The sport was poor," he told her. "The pheasants aren't very strong yet, and it was hard to drive them out of the covers. As I'd only a light water-proof, I got rather wet outside the last wood and I left the others. Kettering wanted to see the keeper about to-morrow's beat, but I didn't wait."
"Since you have been in the rain all day, you had better have some tea," said Sylvia. "They'll bring it here, if you ring."
He followed her to a small table across the hall, and after a tray had been set before them they sat talking in low voices. Presently Bland laid his hand on Sylvia's arm.
"You know why I came down," he said. "I must go back to-morrow and I want the announcement made before I leave."
Sylvia blushed and lowered her eyes.
"Oh, well," she conceded, "you have really been very patient, and perhaps it would be hardly fair to make you wait any longer."
Bland took her hand and held it fast.
"You are worth waiting for! But there were times when it was very hard not to rebel. I'd have done so, only I was afraid."
"You did rebel."