"Awful," said Dick. "Worst beer in England."
Amaryllis did not reply. When they were amongst the trees, he spoke again.
"I know Randal was to meet me at St. Albans, but I 'phoned from Iddingfield and told 'em to send him back at once. I got my car back from the vet. at mid-day, and if I hadn't had a bit of a smash just outside Iddingfield, I'd have got here before."
Amaryllis was a quick walker, and had set a good pace up the slope from the stile. Suddenly she remembered her companion's nick-name, and, slackening her speed, involuntarily glanced down to see if indeed this man were lame.
He came up beside her.
"It's all right, Miss Caldegard," he said kindly. "My action's a blemish, not a handicap."
"Oh, Mr. Bellamy!" she said. "I never even noticed it until this minute."
"I thought that was how you recognised me in the road," said the man.
"It wasn't that," said Amaryllis, and in fear of further questioning, whistled her dog back to the path.
"Silly old thing," she said. "He won't believe that Mr. Bunny is too quick for him; he's never caught one yet except in his dreams."