"And now everybody's had tea but me," she continued. "So we can just sit down and have some together."
McNab sat down beside her at the big table on which she had spread a white cloth.
A generous and genial glow suffused him. For the moment he forgot the reason of his visit. Deirdre had put it all out of his head with that smile of hers. The sound of her merry voice set every fibre of him tingling and thrilling as his fibres had never tingled and thrilled before.
CHAPTER XXXI
In the yard Conal told the Schoolmaster of McNab's arrival.
"Settles us," Farrel said shortly. "That's what he came to do. And we can't afford to let him think there's anything on. He's given his suspicions to M'Laughlin most likely and the delay to-night'll give them time to get the word out about us along the road. So all we can do is lie low, play civil to McNab, let him think he's on the wrong track. Then when this blows over—in a couple of months, perhaps—"
Conal swore bitterly.
"I could have wrung his neck when I saw him. It was all I could do to keep me hands off him," he said.
"Don't be giving the game away, Conal," the Schoolmaster cautioned. "Mind, we're not taking chances."