"I'll call for they 'orseshoes in the marnin', Peter," said he, and vanished.
"Arter all," I heard him say, as he joined the others, "'tis summat to ha' shook 'ands wi' a chap as fights wi' demons!"
CHAPTER XI
A SHADOW IN THE HEDGE
Over the uplands, to my left, the moon was peeping at me, very broad and yellow, as yet, casting long shadows athwart my way. The air was heavy with the perfume of honeysuckle abloom in the hedges—a warm, still air wherein a deep silence brooded, and in which leaf fluttered not and twig stirred not; but it was none of this I held in my thoughts as I strode along, whistling softly as I went. Yet, in a while, chancing to lift my eyes, I beheld the object of my reverie coming towards me through the shadows.
"Why—Charmian!" said I, uncovering my head.
"Why—Peter!"
"Did you come to meet me?"
"It must be nearly nine o'clock, sir."
"Yes, I had to finish some work."