"It's all right," said John.
"You told him?"
"Yes."
There was a pause. The bees buzzed among the lavender.
"Was he——?"
"Cut up?"
"Yes."
"Yes," said John in a low voice. "But he took it like a sportsman. I left him almost cheerful."
He would have said more, but at this moment his attention was diverted by a tickling sensation in his right leg. A suspicion that one of the bees, wearying of lavender, was exploring the surface of his calf, came to John. But, even as he raised a hand to swat the intruder, Pat spoke again.
"Johnnie."