nows."

He found Billy awaiting him in the road, anxious and somewhat
reproachful. "You've been such a deuce of a time," he said. "Is she all
right?"

"She is very upset," he made answer. "And she is faint too for want of
food."

"That's not surprising," commented Billy. "She can't have had anything
since lunch yesterday. What shall I do? Run home and get something? The
mater can't want her to starve."

"No." Scott's voice rang on a hard note. "She probably doesn't. But you
needn't go home for it. Run back to that farm we passed just now, and see
if you can get some hot milk! Be quick like a good chap! Here's the
money! I'll wait here."

Billy seized his bicycle and departed on his errand.

Scott began to walk his horse up and down, for inactivity was unbearable.
Every moment he spent away from poor, broken Dinah was torturing. Those
dreadful, hopeless tears of hers filled him with foreboding. He yearned
to return.

Billy's absence lasted for nearly a quarter of an hour, and he was
beginning to get desperate over the delay when at last the boy returned
carrying a can of milk and a mug.

"I had rather a bother to get it," he explained. "People are so mighty
difficult to stir, and I didn't want to tell 'em too much. I've promised
to take these things back again. I say, can't I come along with you now?"

"I'd rather you didn't," Scott said. "I can manage best alone. Besides,
I'm going to ask you to do something more."

"Anything!" said Billy readily.

"Thanks. Well, will you ride this animal into Great Mallowes, hire a
closed car, and send it to the bridge here to pick me up? Then take him
back to the Court, and if anyone asks any questions, say I've met a
friend and I'm coming back on foot, but I may not be in to luncheon. Yes,
that'll do, I think. I'll see about returning these things. Much obliged,
Billy. Good-bye!"

Billy looked somewhat disappointed at this dismissal, but the prospect of
a ride was dear to his boyish heart, and in a moment he nodded cheerily.
"All right, I'll do that. I'll hide my bicycle in the wood and fetch it
afterwards. But where are you going to take her to?"

Scott smiled also faintly and enigmatically. "Leave that to me, my good
fellow! I shan't run away with her."

"But I shall see her again some time?" urged Billy, as he dumped his
long-suffering machine over the railing and propped it out of sight
behind the hedge.

"No doubt you will." Scott's tone was kindly and reassu