"Has Warren been behaving himself lately?" he asked.
"He always behaves himself," was her answer.
"I am glad you think so; I do not," he said gruffly. "Warren is going the pace, and you know it."
His anxiety about Irene caused him for a time to forget his own troubles.
Eli Todd watched the Squire, and noted how worn and aged he was growing. This caused him many qualms of conscience; he knew the cause, and would have liked to remove it. He wrote a long letter to Ulick, telling him how his father's health suffered, and begging him to return. This caused him to wonder if he was doing right in remaining away. Now that he knew everything connected with Janet's disappearance from home, he felt it was impossible for him to go to Hazelwell and meet Irene, as he was sure to do. He wrote to Eli, explaining as well as he could that it was impossible for him to return at present, but circumstances might arise which would enable him to do so at no distant date. With this Eli had to rest contented, but he would have preferred something more definite.
It was shortly after the Saint's great race with Pinkerton at Kempton that the Squire came into Eli's cottage and sat down for a chat. Eli gave him full particulars of all the mares and youngsters in the stud, and said there would be some good prices realised at Doncaster in September.
"Honeysuckle's foal will be a tip-topper," said Eli. "He'll run well into four figures."
"I shall not sell him," replied the Squire.
Eli was glad to hear this; it meant the Squire thought of racing again.
"Shall you have him trained?" he asked.