e said slowly,
"I'd dearly like to know if Meg Morton ever said anything to you about
me--anything rather confidential--I won't be offended, I'd just like to
know."

"About you?" Miles echoed in a puzzled voice.

"About my appearance, you know--my looks."

"I think she called you good-looking, like everybody else, but I don't
remember that she was specially enthusiastic. To tell you the honest
truth, Pen, we've had other things to talk about than you."

"Now listen, you two," said Lady Pen. "That little girl is straight. You
won't understand, Miles, but Aunt Mary will. Meg Morton knew I was
against her--about you, Miles--women always know these things. And yet
she held her tongue when she could have said something true that I'd
rather not have talked about. You'll hold your tongue, old chap, and so
will Aunt Mary. I've got her hair; got it on this minute. That's why
she's such a croppy."

Lady Mary sat down on the nearest chair and sighed deeply.

"It's been a real satisfaction to me, this transformation, because I
know where it came from."

Miles took his cousin's hand and kissed it. "If somebody had to have it,
I'm glad it's you," he said.

"Yes, she's straight," Lady Pen repeated. "I don't believe there's many
girls who would have kept quiet--not when the man they cared about was
being got at. You may ring now, Aunt Mary. I'm through. Good night."

* * * * * * * *

"Do you realise," said Peter as they turned out of the dark Manor drive
into the moonlit road, "that I've been here on and off over a month, and
that we are now nearly at the end of July?"

"You've only just come to _us_," said Jan. "You can't count the time you
stayed at 'The Green Hart' as a visit."

"And now I have come ... I'm not quite sure I've done wisely,
unless...."

"Unless what?"

"Unless I can put something through that I came back from India to do."

Jan did not answer. They walked on in silence, and Peter looked at the
moon.

"I think," he said, "you've always had a pretty clear idea why I came
home from India ... haven't you?"

"It was time for your leave," Jan said nervously. "It isn't good to
stay out there too long."

"I shouldn't have taken leave this year, though, if it hadn't been for
you."

"You've always been kind and helpful to me ... I hope it hasn't been
very ... inconvenient."

Peter laughed, and stopped in the middle of the road.

"I'm fond of fencing,