Grimshaw smiled back at her.
“Yes; it is settled, Miss Chandos.”
“I’m ever so glad.”
V
The partners walked home together across the park, which was not of large extent and held no deer. Henry Chandos had put down the deer. Sheep browsed placidly upon the rich grasses. Bordering the park was a shrubbery of rhododendrons, and through this meandered a path which ended at a fine wrought-iron gate opening upon the village green. As they passed through the rhododendrons, Grimshaw noticed that they had reverted to type—the familiar Ponticum.
“Lady Selina has let things rip,” he remarked.
“There isn’t too much money, as perhaps you have guessed.”
“But she told us that the estate was clear of debt.”
“To keep it so is her mission in life. Well, what did you think of her?”
“Wonderful! There is no other adjective. I can understand that there has been a conspiracy of silence to ‘spare’ her. Forgive me for saying that I am sure you are the chief conspirator.”