e was like an old Greek athlete's, his face
was sharply cut and somehow ascetic. He was hot-blooded, but one knew
he was not gross. His was a clean virility.

Evelyn thought she loved him, as much as she could love anybody, for
she had not been touched by passion, and it counted for something that
he loved her. The reserve he thought he used was, of course,
ridiculous. Evelyn resolved she would go to Langrigg and sympathize
with Jim. Then she would wait and by and by her feelings might get
stronger and she would see her way. She would not admit that the
possibility of learning whether Jim would get over his difficulties had
some influence.

Next evening she went to Langrigg, without Mrs. Halliday, who made an
excuse. Jim called for her with his car, and, for the most part, she
was quiet and he did not talk much. There were steep hills and awkward
corners as they ran down from the rolling country to the plain. The
evening was calm and the noise of the sea came softly out of the
distance. Now and then plover and curlew cried, a half-moon hung in
the west, and the black hills rose out of fleecy mist. Evelyn was
imaginative and liked the drive across the flat holms in the dark. It
was romantic ground, rich with traditions of the old Border raids, and
now as she watched Jim, sitting, absorbed, with his hands on the wheel,
she felt he, so to speak, dated back. He drove the powerful modern car
with ease and skill, but somehow she imagined him wearing steel cap and
leather jack and guiding a shaggy pony. Perhaps it was the picture in
a hall she knew that haunted her. One saw the shadowy horsemen and
glitter of spears in the moonlight.

Meanwhile, she gave herself to irresolute thought. Jim had some
advantages and some drawbacks; Evelyn saw the drawbacks plainly. He
attracted her; it would be exciting to let him carry her away and
embark with him on a romantic adventure. She knew he had recently used
a stern control, but he was hot-blooded and his reserve might be
undermined. Yet there was a risk; she must give up much. She was
drawn in different ways by romance and worldly caution and it looked as
if caution would win.

Soon after she reached Langrigg Mordaunt arrived with Dick. The latter
declared that Jim was a very good sort, and Evelyn knew his feeling was
sincere, but she imagined Dick liked Carrie and was sometimes
disturbed. For all that, she had been relieved to note that Carrie
liked Dick.