"The crops and the farmers want it, I suppose you mean! Do you know that I've no interest in either of them?"
95 "You surprise me," said Feathers gravely.
She held out her white hand.
"Give me a cigarette, Mr. Dakers!" She glanced round the lounge.
"Where is everyone to-night?" she asked plaintively.
"I think most of the men are in the billiard room," Marie said hesitatingly; she knew that Chris was—he had asked her permission first, and the little attention had pleased her, though she knew quite well that he would have gone, anyway, had he desired to go.
"I think Mr. Dakers is simply splendid, you know," Mrs. Heriot said with enthusiasm, when presently he had walked away. "He makes such a wonderful friend, doesn't he?"
"He is very kind," Marie agreed frigidly.
"How you will miss him!" the elder woman went on sympathetically. "Or is he going back to town with you?"
"No, he is not going back with us," Marie said.